STEP FORWARD: In Serving

STEP FORWARD: In Serving

1 Peter 4:10-11

01.05.25 We're starting a new series today entitled STEP FORWARD

Each week we're goingto explore 1 of our 5 values as a church NOT only to learn them but also to live them as individuals and as a church.

This sermon series will challenge us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the call to deeper discipleship. We'll explore how to step forward in serving, ministeringto others, giving generously, sharing our faith with boldness, and pursuing spiritual maturity in our walk with Christ. The title of the sermon today is: Step Forward – In Serving!

pray

I grew up in a ministry family. My dad who is now an elder at our church has been a Pastor for 55yrs. Growing up I saw the good, the bad and the ugly. I never wanted to be a pastor. I saw a domestic dispute where two young kids came running to our house crying Pastor Blake please come daddy is going to kill mommy. I remember my dad dropping everything and running to their house. It was then I thought wait a minute what if he kills my daddy? I remember a lady calling my parents in the middle of the night saying she was home alone, and the baby was coming. My dad woke me up and said we must go to take this lady to the hospital. I remember the car ride well as the baby was coming with me in the car… Yikes! I remember the man who got shot in the marijuana field and came to my parents’ house bleeding pleading with my dad to take him to the hospital. My mom cleaning his wounds and my dad getting the car ready to drive the man to the hospital.

I made up my mind from a very young age, I am never going to be a Pastor. When I was a teenager, I got saved. Then God placed a burden on my heart for ministry as a which I could not shake. I was then I kept hearing God saying to me YOU ARE SAVED TO SERVE! THE HIGHEST CALLING IN LIFE IS SERVING CHRIST BY SERVING OTHERS! If you have a bible whether physical or digital. Please open to… 1 Peter 4:10-11.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: [11] whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God [truths 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.

As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another (10). Serve in ministry. That’s the crux of these two verses.

And embedded in them, are several reasons to serve. Starting with this.

1. Step Forward – Serve in ministry, to use your gifts (v10a)

As each has received a gift, use it. It’s not a suggestion, It’s a command!

And gifts, here we are talking about spiritual gifts. Each disciple of Jesus Christ has been given a spiritual gift to be used in service. God perfectly arranges the gifts and people in the church (1 Corinthians 12:17-19 ESV) [17] If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? [18] But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. [19] If all were a single member, where would the body be? (1 Corinthians 12:17-19 ESV)

– What is a spiritual gift? Spiritual Gift – Any ability empowered by the Holy Spirit and used in ministry of the church.

Gifts are not manufactured; God bestows them upon us therefore we ought to make use of them. That’s the point the apostle Peter is making here!

Instead of hiding your gift under a cloak of false modesty, use it! Instead of holding on to your gift because of something in the past, use it! Instead of living in rebellion, use it! As each person has received a gift, use it!

Not sure what your spiritual gifts are? The best way to discover that is by serving. Not the online spiritual gift test. Not enneagram but rolling up your sleeves and getting involved in the work of the ministry. Attempting things, seeing what fuels you instead of depletes you. Serving in a ministry is the best way to discover and use your spiritual gifts. We are saved to Serve! So, Step Forward and serve in a ministry!

And do so . . .

• With Humility Moses in the Old Testament depicts for us an example of humility. Moses may be known today for his faith, leadership and patience but his story didn’t start out that way.

In Numbers 12:3, God gives Moses an assignment and it’s an assignment where Moses doubts himself and his abilities. God says to him that he is to liberate his people Israel from Slavery in Egypt. But Moses was hesitant. He’s like I can’t lead, I can’t speak…. “No can’t do it Lord”.

But even in the midst of his fear and counting the cost, the consequences, he trusts God, he submits to him, and God uses him, this “very meek man” to set the Israelites free, to cross them over the Red Sea and to be the one who hands over to his people the Ten Commandments we know today.

And . . .

• Even in the midst of opposition

Moses’ protégé. (Josh 24:15) After leading the Israelites into the Promised Land, he said, “Choose this day whom you will serve . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” “I don’t know what you’re going to do, but I know what I’m going to do. I’m going to serve. Even if you don’t.”

How about you? Do you serve with humility? Use your gifts even in the midst of opposition? I hope so. Because God commands it, and God rewards it. Your work shall be rewarded the Bible says. 2 Chron 15:7. Obedience brings blessing. Over the summer we had the VBS ladies from Highpoint Chicago come to serve along side our team. We visited Highpoint over the summer and Miss Kelly was in tears as she told me how encouraged she was with one of our volunteers. I recall when our church was young. This specific volunteer said to me Pastor Al I cant serve in this ministry. I encouraged them, I know you are a hand but right now I need you to be a foot because you are all we have. They served willingly. - She humbly served -Lots of opposition (person saying you are not good at this) - She’s grown now to be a faithful worker on our team

Step Forward – Serve in ministry, to use your gifts.

2.My Spiritual Gift is given to Build the Church (10b)

use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

This of course refers to the mutual ministry among fellow believers in the context of the local church.

· Spiritual gifts benefit others.

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 1 Cor 12:(7)

To each is given a spiritual gift(s) that reveals the person and work of the Holy Spirit within you and they are given to benefit others (for the common good) – It’s not about you! *Sometimes we come to church to see what we can get. * Rather what scripture is saying is that we come to church to see what we can give! WOW What a change of perspective.

1 Cor 14:26 – When you come together . . . let all things be done for building up.

True spiritual gifts are to be used to build up and benefit the church

That happens because . . .

God perfectly arranges the gifts and people in our church. (1 Cor 12:4-6)

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

If we all had the same gift, our benefit to one another would be greatly diminished.

And our effectiveness at building up the church as a whole would be severely limited. But that’s not the case because God arranges us in the body of Christ, to be the most effective as a whole --- that’s why your lack of serving is a bad thing – not only because it’s flat out disobedience,

but because it adversely affects our church, and the arrangement that God intends.

**That’s why we to step forward in serving… Fill this out

Once again, v10 says – As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. Stewards are servants who carefully and responsibly manage that which is entrusted to their care. And notice here, that our gifts are the result of God’s varied grace.

Someone describes Christians as Waiters/servers! The food is given to us so that we might distribute it to others. Just so, spiritual gifts are given to us so that we might distribute them to others in the body. God has given some gifts to some and other gifts to others. My Spiritual Gift is given to Build the Church (10b)

The spiritual gift you receive is one aspect of the grace of God He intends to give to others. So when you use your spiritual gift for the benefit of others in the body, you are God’s agent, God’s conduit through which he gives His grace to His people.

Like the second servant in the Parable of the stewards (Luke 19). The Nobleman distributes minas or units of money to his ten servants accordingly. And like his fellow servant, he used what was given to him to the best of his ability. So much so that when his master returns, he commended and rewarded the guy, just like he did the servant who made 10.

We are not all given the same gifts, but we are all expected to use whatever gifts we’ve been given to the greatest extent possible. We may not all be singers, musicians, ushers, greeters, but whatever gift God has given to you, you can use it to build up the body of Christ.

That’s putting the smallest gift to good use!

3. My Spiritual Gift is Empowered by God (10c-11a)

whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; 11 whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—

· Spiritual gifts are given by the Holy Spirit

The word apportions translates a word that indicates a continuing activity over time. The HS is always continuing to distribute or apportion gifts to each person as he wills which means, if the Holy Spirit (HS) gives us spiritual gifts, you and I can’t manufacture them and you can’t make it happen yourself. You can develop the gifts you have, and you should, but… Your giftedness comes from God and God alone, through the power and presence of the HS within you. Self-made is not a label for true spiritual gifts given by the HS.

Regardless of the gift, if it’s speaking, teaching, encouraging, hospitality; when you serve in ministry do so in God’s strength because that’s where the power is.

And how do you do this? The simple answer is by asking for it. Ask for strength. You have not because you ask not. (James 4:2)

Instead of going it alone and eventually burning out, ask for help. And when you do that, lean in on his presence. His power and his spirit within you. It’s the only way to truly serve.

Serving can result in physical and emotional tiredness but it’s also an opportunity when that happens for God to display the sufficiency of His grace and perfection of His power in you. For my power is made perfect in weakness, Jesus said. (2 Cor 12:9) Serve accordingly. You are SAVED TO SERVE!

And then. . .

4. My Spiritual Gift Glorifies God (11b)

in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever” -1 Peter 4:10-11

· Spiritual Gifts are to Glorify God through Jesus Christ

As believers the purpose for why we serve is to glorify God. Why because glory and dominion belong to him, and all authority is rightfully His. As good as the first three points outlined are, they pale in comparison to the real crux of this entire message and that is;

Using our gifts by building up our church, and blessing our church are secondary reasons to serve in ministry. Our primary reason is glorifying God.

And notice it’s through Jesus Christ. He’s God’s Son; the apple of his eye; the second member of the trinity. Apart from Him we can do nothing.

If we’re serving in the name of self…..God won’t be glorified. It is only when we’re serving in the name of Jesus, because of the work of Jesus, and according to the example of Jesus. That’s the idea of glorifying God through Jesus Christ. He laid the foundation for us. . To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever” We are Saved to Serve!Step forward – By serving in a ministry at our church. It's been a tough couple of years. We had a Vulcanic eruption, pandemic, my mom and brother passed away of cancer in the space of one month and recently we had a hurricane pass over our island. I’ve had some issues with my eyes where I’ve had to have surgery. The Dr said the optic nerve is swollen though stress and overwork. Through it all there is a lesson I’ve had to learn. I need to abide with God, time in his word and prayer. Taking care of God’s temple through diet and exercise and rest. Yes I’ve been using my gifts but ultimately God has to be Glorified and not self.

Pray