Serving The Body

Therefore

this book is written to the suffering church

written to provide hope to the persecuted

then and now

Christ suffered in the flesh he is sovereign over all

4-1 therefore equip yourselves

to do the will of God

through grace, aim to cease from sinning

understand that the unregenerate are not going to understand you

and when they persecute you, be assured that God will judge them

and even if you are killed for the cause of Christ. death is just the front porch as you enter eternity

we need to equip ourselves mentally with promises for hope

now we need to help each other and to serve and to love one another

Read 1 Peter 4 7-11.

Pray

Expectation

Duck flying south for the winter with a broken wing,

is cared for by a a family . every time he saw ducks going south he wanted to join

next year still not strong enough being fed by hand by the family

next year the duck saw the others flying south and trying to fly but was to fat

the year after that he did not even notice the other ducks

he was content in his lifestyle

we too must not love this world so much that we don’t even look for the rapture

Maybe God is bringing covid, inflation, famines, natural disasters

so we will not love this world so we want to stay

we need to live in expectation of Christs return at any minute

1 John 2:15 LEB

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him,

V 6 if you die because of suffering you will be with Him

V 7 Have this hope that Jesus is returning for His bride

to take her home to the beautiful city He has prepared

Therefore

V 7 Because Christ is returning

Be sober minded- not to be taken away with emotions or passions

maintain a proper perspective, a pursuit of holiness

Knowing that he will stand before God and give an account

For the purpose of Prayer- our prayer life should be with the expectation

Ready to meet the Lord

speaking with the Father with love, and an eagerness to see Him

speaking with the Father as if you are already there in His presence

V 8 Keep your love Great for one another

Maximum output of love

putting others ahead of yourself

Covers sins, Genesis 9 18-24.

we don’t condone the sin but we are not offended every time

ready to forgive, to overlook others short comings

not to spread around the gossip

V 9 be hospitable

Willing to entertain guests

maybe homeless brothers and sisters

serving others who are suffering

without complaining, this is where the great love comes in

with the cost of living increasing we might have to...

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Serving gifts

V 10

Hospitality, serving others, administration, discernment, encourager

use these gifts to build up and serve the body

V 11

teaching gifts Pastor, teacher evangelist

use these gifts as if Jesus was teaching

We can only do this as God supplies the strength

we can only do this as we rely upon the Holy Spirit’s Grace to us

this cannot be done in our own power

we must rely on the grace of God to accomplish this

the love we have for each other can become mighty thin if we try in our own power

the sermons and teachings can become shallow if it on my own

When The Holy Spirit provides the power to serve God is glorified

The chief end of man is to glorify God

in order to do that God gives the power to do

Christ is returning soon we need to be about the masters business

the business of forgiving, serving , teaching, loving, hospitality

remember this book is to the persecuted church.

people need hope

and believers need love