Stewards of God's Grace - Living for the Will of God
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Stewards of God’s Grace - Living for the Will of God
Stewards of God’s Grace - Living for the Will of God
Many believers agonize over God’s will for them. And so they should. We are His sheep. It is only natural that we should ask what our shepherd wants us to do, listen for His voice and follow.
A broader, but just as significant question is, “How do I live for the Lord?”
In the passage before us, Peter referred to living for the will of God - 1 Peter 4:4. In the latter part of this same portion, Peter mentioned something that seems to begin to define and be synonymous with living for the will of God. I Peter 4:10 - When we use the good gifts that God as given to serve one another , we are good stewards of God’s varied grace and thereby living for the will of God and doing His will.
So to answer the parallel questions of “What is God’s will for me?” “How do I live for the Lord, for His will?” Peter would remind us that we already have most of the answer. Use your gifts to serve others. You are stewards of God’s grace to you and others. Invest it.
In the Scriptures “living for the will of God” and “being good stewards of God’s grace” are clearly interconnected and for the most part synonymous. Peter reminded the scattered exiles to whom he wrote what this meant
But before we consider “living for the will of God” and “being good stewards of God’s grace”, it is imperative to note that the word of God underscores that there are two essential prerequisites. We need to be believers. And as believers we need to be obedient.
God’s revealed will is that all would come to repentance and that His redeemed children walk obediently.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
This does not mean that God not answer the prayers of unbelievers, but when there is a decided choice to ignore one’s sin and need of a Saviour there will be limits on those answers .
In the words of Micah, when God has already told us what to do the onus is on us to believe and obey.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?
Living for the will of God - 1 Peter 4:2, 1-6
Living for the will of God - to the will of God KJV - models Christ not human passions. This is why the Gospel is preached and what surprises unbelievers.
Models Christ - attitude and actions - 4:1
Reminded Christ suffered in the flesh - 1 Pet 1:11; 2:23; 3:18
Actual physical suffering
Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking - let this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus - Phil 2:1-8
Whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin
Not an encouragement search for suffering to eradicate sin BUT the reminder that when we are willing to suffer for what we believe, we are putting Christ first. The opposite is putting ourselves first. That is always sin.
Taking up the cross of Christ sometimes involves suffering and death.
And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Peter’s reference was not mystical. Those who read this, knew that Jesus died. They also knew that some believers had already been killed for their faith.
The new life that they had in Christ meant being willing to die for Him
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.
What/who are we willing to die for?
Ceased from sin - perfect tense -past action re ceased from sin - permanent condition - free from sin. When we repented, confessing our sin, we came under a new master. Satan and sin have ceased to dominate us. That is not to say that they do not do battle. But they are fighting a battle that they lost at Calvary.
Not that stop sinning but that free from the power and condemnation of sin.
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
Not human passions - 4:2-3 - 6 forms of sensuality -Some would say that Peter is too graphic. Why run the risk of offending some who might still wrestle with some of those things?
Lusts of men - all sin is disobedience to the will of God - trespasses, transgressions
Wantonness - Mk 7:22
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.
Lust - passionate longing - Mk 4:19
Sensuality - excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures - if it feels good, even for a while, do it
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
passions
drunkeness - excess of wine KJV - excess -to teem with abundance, bubble up, overflow - excessive insatiable desire for wine
orgies - revellings KJV,
drinking parties - banqueting KJV , gathering when the focus in alcohol
lawless - abominable KJV- idolatries
Surprises unbelievers - 4:4-5
Surprises - astonished/shocked with the connotation of being offended and resentful because of the shock.
Do not join with them - part of a troop
debauchery - same word in another form translated - wasteful when the prodigal scattered is living wastefully
For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
Because the normal life style of believers changed so dramatically, there was often a resentment that believers did nor join the party. - tea tottlers.
For that reason, malign/speak evil of believers
1 Peter: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Transformation from the Past
Ancient sources, both Christian and non-Christian, provide ample evidence that it was Christians’ reluctance to participate in many conventionally accepted amusements and ungodly civic ceremonies, and their refusal to engage in idolatrous, immoral functions that caused unbelievers to hate and revile them. That led to unjust persecution and suffering for righteousness’ sake.
Must give an accounting to God, not unbelievers. That does not mean that we go out of our way to be obknockious but having tried live for the Lord, leave the rest with Him.
Why the Gospel is preached - 4:6
The Gospel is preached because people are spiritually dead. They do not know it but they are. They do not know that what they have assumed is the norm is lacking - PLATO’S REPUBLIC - darkness and those who reject the light preferring to stay in the dark cave.
With grace we tell of them the truth of their spiritual death but God’s grace.
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
While we are called to be salt and light - living for Christ so that others would ask us the reason for the hope We preach the Gospel to rescue those who are dead spiritually
Not that they might live better but live in the spirit the way God does.
Peter’s point is that even if it results in suffering and death, those who die in Christ live in the spirit and according to the will of God and the way of God.
and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
The Gospel is at times offensive. When it ceases to be offensive it is not the Biblical gospel.
Early 60’s Jesus people - Bible studies, revival, renewal -
BUT more recently - seeker sensitive - far beyond grace and truth - de-emphasize doctrinal clarity and expository preaching, homilies and self improvement
2. Being good stewards of the grace of God means - 1 Peter 4:10, 7-11
Good stewards of God’s grace live with one end in mind, serving others both by what they say and do.
Live with one end in mind - 4:7-9
Therefore, be self-controlled, sober-minded - that prayers be not hindered
Above all - with one end in mind
Loving one another earnestly
Since love covers a multitude of sins. True spiritual love, while not overlooking sin and calls for repentance is willing to forgive
One another - seems to refer to other believers.
To live up above with the saints that we love, that will be glory. But to live down below with the saints that we know, that’s another story.
As much as is possible, Christians should forgive sins against them - 70 times 7 - Forgive others as God forgives us - unforgiving servant
Forgive = trust
Love covers a multitude of sins.
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling
First Century believers known for hospitality & sharing
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Individual and shared stewardship of grace gifts - 4:10
Each of us has received a grace gift - given not earned - gift lifted - Rom 12:3-8; 1 Cor 12:4-10
Gifts received through the grace of God
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
Each one has received gifts to serve one another - our gifts are to serve one another.
Two categories of grace gifts - 4:11
Speaking - oracles of God - word of God -
Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
This is the one who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him at Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. He received living oracles to give to us.
Serving/doing
For too many the Gospel and being a Christian is only about forgiveness and salvation not about service.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
But serving not only in the sense of Social Gospel but as an embodiment and opening of a door to preach the Gospel
Jesus seldom walked by those in need. Having addressed the need, He spent time with them.
That is everything God might be glorified - not that build a coalition and get my way
Prayer - TO HIM BELONG GLORY AND DOMINION FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN.
God is glorified not only by what we way but by what we say and do.
to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Every generation of believers must continue to ask each other, “What is God’s will?” or “What does God want me/us to do?” While these are essential questions, Peter seems to take us back a step. Before we ask about God’s will, we are better to ask “How do we live for His will and be good stewards of the grace gifts that He has given to me?”
Living the the will of God models the mind of Christ and why the Gospel is preached.
Christ command to follow Him does not end with salvation.
WWJD a good start but we are not Jesus. We need to follow Jesus as the word explains
We need to study and pray for the mind of Christ.
We need to model the word not the latest trending Christian spokesperson. I am not saying they are worthy of respect but this is not about Paul or Peter or Apollos but about Christ.
2. Faithful stewards of God’s grace gifts are accountable to God and each other as they serve Him and each other.
Most of us are too sensitive is how we work together. We need to be wiling to listen to each other and accept grace and truth constructive advice
Sem - practice teaching training
Capitol Hill Baptist Church - post Sunday evening service and the week in review. Negative criticisms were not allowed. Those involved were reminded if you can’t say something positive don’t speak and if you choose not to say here in this small caring circle, don’t bring it up later.
3. God’s will, living for the will of God and being good stewards of God’s varied grace are more or less synonymous.
Living for the will of God speaks to what we are and why we live. When we understand why we do what we do, the doing/what we do becomes more or less second nature.
While we continue to search for God’s specific leading in way, I would suggest that we focus more of the way and staying in the way as compared to God’s will. God does call and open major doors when we come to the interchanges of life but most of the time we do better to insure that we allow the Scriptures be or LKAS and ACC so that we do not depart from our lane follow the next vehicle.
We also to be aware of driver fatigue or lack off attention/correction.
Senior Safety Features - Scripture Safety Features