I’m a Christian. Now what? Glorifying God through Serving

1 Peter 4:10-11 “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

각각 은사를 받은 대로 하나님의 여러 가지 은혜를 맡은 선한 청지기 같이 서로 봉사하라 만일 누가 말하려면 하나님의 말씀을 하는 것 같이 하고 누가 봉사하려면 하나님이 공급하시는 힘으로 하는 것 같이 하라 이는 범사에 예수 그리스도로 말미암아 하나님이 영광을 받으시게 하려 함이니 그에게 영광과 권능이 세세에 무궁하도록 있느니라 아멘

INTRODUCTION

1. Introduction

a. We’ve been going through our series in “I’m a Christian, now what?” This week, we are dealing with the topic of serving. This will be a 2 part series. Serving the Church through serving others but also serving the church in giving. This week, we will be talking about serving others and 2 weeks from today, we will be talking about serving through giving.

b. With that said, we want to deal with serving the local church in serving each other. I’ve been speaking in 1 John in how we are called to love each other. This is similar but more aligned with serving others in the building of the church. It could be a way of loving others but it’s serving others with our gifts.

c. Serving in the church is one of those things that everyone knows they are supposed to do, but in many churches, it’s a very small number of people doing everything. In a small church like ours, it can be burdensome for people because we have to wear multiple hats. We want to thank the people who have been serving and I’ve been blessed to see our church start to grow with ministries forming and seeing growth. But the reality is, it’s everyone’s job to serve and build the church.

d. In today’s text, Peter gives us 2 points on what it means to glorify God through serving. Peter tells us that we are called to serve to build others. But not only are we called to build others, but we are called to serve to glorify God.

BODY

1. Serve for the Building of others (4:10)

a. The immediate context for 1 Peter is you must live a godly life because of what Christ has done for you. 1 Peter 1 tells us what Christ has done. Chapter 2-3 tell us how we should live godly lives. Then in Chapter 4, Peter reminds us to prepare for the coming of Christ by living godly lives. Peter says in 1 Peter 4:7, that the end of all things is near, therefore be of sound judgment and of prayer. Then Peter says to be fervent in love for one another and be hospitable to each other. This then leads to the text for today. The topic is serving and how are we to serve.

b. As I said earlier, serving is foundational for every believer. Yet, it is true that many believers don’t use their gifts because they feel like they are inadequate or because they are shy and think that there are people who are more gifted than them. Others have served but are discouraged so they quit serving and sit and watch.

c. If you go to church, you see that many people fall in these camps. Although we know that serving is foundational to the church and for believers, many believers simply don’t serve or don’t know how to serve the church.

d. This is not uncommon to people in the church. Before we serve, there are three questions that we must answer when it comes to serving. First, we must address the question of, how can I serve if I don’t have the gift? Secondly, why do I have to serve?

e. Turn to Exodus 3 by way of illustration. In Exodus 3:1-4:17, God answers the first question. In Exodus 3:1-9, Moses has a conversation with God. Here God comes to Moses in a burning bush and God tells Moses to take off his sandals for he is standing in holy ground. Then in verse 7, God tells Moses that he has heard the cry of Israel and that He is aware of their sufferings.

f. So in verse 10, God tells Moses that He will send Moses to save his people. This is where you would think Moses would be ecstatic to be God’s representative but here, Moses responds by saying who am I that I should go?

g. God responds by telling him don’t worry I will be with you and how He will cause every man and woman to listen to you. Then Moses responds by asking, what if they don’t believe me? This is the same question, how can I serve when I am unqualified? Then God tells Moses to take his staff and throw it down and the staff became a snake. But Moses still didn’t believe. Moses says, God I am not an eloquent speaker. God responds by telling him that He has made man’s mouth and He will tell him what to say.

h. And finally Moses says, God I don’t want to go. Please find someone else to go. This response caused God to be angry with Moses. It says in Exodus 4:14 that the anger of the Lord burned against Moses and said that He would send Aaron to speak for him and to take the staff to perform signs.

i. God answers the question of how can I serve if I don’t have the gift. Constantly, Moses is saying that he’s unqualified, that he doesn’t have the gift to serve. God’s answer is always the same. You don’t serve by your strength. Rather, God will give Moses the strength to carry out the ministry. This is the same as us when we are given the task to serve. We think that we are unqualified but it’s because we are trusting in our own abilities, but instead, we should be trusting in God to provide for us as we serve.

j. Well Peter helps us with these problems. Peter reminds us by telling us that each one has received a gift. This is critical in our understanding. Many people feel inadequate and think they don’t have the capacity to serve. They think that there are other people in the church who are more talented than they are so they don’t want to serve. But Peter tells us otherwise. Peter tells us that each one, every believer has a gift. The thing that every believer must do is find what they are gifted with.

k. Everyone is born with talents. That is what we are born. This can be musical giftedness or some type of talent we are born with. Similarly, when we are born again, God gives us gifts. Some of us have more than 1 gift and have multiple gifts, but the reality is, every true believer in Christ has a gift. This is what Peter tells us. The reality is you have received a gift.

l. And similarly as Moses, not only have we been given the gift, but God is the one who will supply us with the power to accomplish and complete the task. The problem with much serving in the church today is not ability. We know from the story of Moses that ability is not the issue at hand.

m. It is because we feel uncomfortable serving because our lives are focused on ourselves. We think for the effort that we have to put in, the result is not worth it. We think that the time we have to invest, I could use that time better. We think for the amount of money I have to spend for this ministry, I could just buy something better for myself with this money.

n. This is the problem why most people don’t like to serve in the church. It is because it costs too much but also, because we feel like we are the only ones doing it. Often times, I am asked the question, how come so and so doesn’t serve? How come I am the only one who has to do this? If you’ve served with me, chances are, you’ve asked me this question or you’ve felt this way. It is not wrong to think this way. This is human.

But the answer is always that gifts are not meant for us. They are meant for others. 1 Corinthians 12:7 “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” Paul tells us in this verse that each one is given gifts of the Spirit for the common good. It is for others. Apart from the Holy Spirit working in us, we would never want to serve others because we care about ourselves too much. We are always concerned more with what others aren’t doing and what I am doing that I become bitter. But when we recognize that service is always for others, because of the person of Christ. Remember, we serve because of what Jesus did for me. That is our motivation and that is where we should always begin.

o. This is the second question, Why do I have to serve? But God tells us here in verse 10, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Peter’s main point here is that serving is always for others. If you are serving and you feel tired or are burnt out because you think it’s not worth it, it’s too time intensive, it’s too expensive, you are thinking not for others but for yourself.

p. Think of the phrase, It’s better to give than to what. Receive. Why do we say phrases like this? Better question, do we truly believe this is a true statement? If we believe this statement, it’s true why? When we love the person we are giving the gift to. Right? Do you think it’s a waste of money to buy an expensive gift for your loved one? No. Well sometimes, depends on how much it costs. But really, chances are, we don’t feel bad when we spend a lot of money on our loved ones because we think it’s worth it. This truly reveals our heart towards those whom we serve. If we are to serve properly, we must love those whom we are serving.

q. But Peter also answers the question of why do I have to serve by telling us, employ it, put it to use in serving one another as good stewards. This is critical in our understanding of why we need to serve. The reality is, if you are a Christian, if you are a born again believer, then it is your duty to exercise your gift for one another. Why? Because it is a stewardship.

r. A stewardship means that you have been entrusted with something. Therefore, if we have been entrusted as believers, then we have a duty. When people say I don’t want to serve because I don’t feel like it, that is not an option. As Christians, we have a duty. We have a job we have to accomplish. The best illustration to help us understand this is watching soldiers or movies about soldiers. No soldier wants to run into hostile ground. But they do it because that is their duty. That is their calling. They don’t risk their lives because they feel like it. They do it because that is what they were called to do. That is the same for a Christian. Because we are stewards, it’s not about how we feel. It’s about accomplishing the job that God has called us to do.

s. This is why we are all responsible for the care of each other and we are all supposed to care for one another. It’s not a job for some. Jesus says in Matthew 9:37, that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. This is a reminder that there is always an opportunity to serve and that there are no benchwarmers in Heaven. Everyone can serve and must serve.

2. Serve for the Glory of God (4:11)

a. We saw that we are called to serve one another but Peter finalizes this section by reminding us that ultimately, we are serving others for the glory of God. The question of why do we serve always is a two fold question. We serve because it is ultimately to serve others. We serve because God has given us the gift to serve others. But by serving others, we are serving God.

b. The whole problem of thinking about myself is answered in this verse. If we are burnt out in ministry because we always are asking, why isn’t so and so serving, Peter settles that question by reminding us, that serving in the church is not simply building the church of Christ. Everything we do is for the glory of God.

c. I remember when I was attending seminary, one of the most important verses I remember is 1 Corinthians 10:31. Whether then, you eat or you drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God. You see just as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:31, Peter is reminding us of the same thing. If you speak, speak with the utterances of God, if you are serving, serve with the power of God that He supplies, so that Christ would be honored.

d. This is why Peter is telling us that when we speak, speak as one who is speaking the utterances of God. Speak as one who is speaking on behalf of God. Speak with the authority that comes from Him. Stop relying on yourself, but rely on God. Then Peter says, if you are serving, serve with the power that God supplies. Again, stop relying on yourself, but rely on God.

e. I am reminded of people telling me that they don’t want to serve because they don’t have the right heart and God doesn’t want people serving when they don’t have the right heart. This is true to a certain extent. We shouldn’t do things with the wrong mindset. But let me ask you a question, have you ever done something or had to do something you didn’t want to do? That’s life. But that’s what Peter is answering for us. There will be times when you don’t want to serve. In those times, remember that you are serving God. Everything we do, we are doing for the glory of Christ. This is what it means to be faithful. May we be found faithful in our service to each other and for the glory of Christ.

CONCLUSION