Ripple Effect: Gifted to Serve - 1 Peter 4:7-11

Good morning Fellowship!

I have ever experienced someone giving there final words. They can be retiring and they give a final encouragement or they could be on their death bed and the person gives final words and a goodbye. These words are so impactful. I remember the day my grandma passed with such clarity. I was just young child and I went to visit her in hospice, she had moments of clarity and moments where she was confused. I remember turning the corner and coming in her room as she was surround by my grandpa and her sisters. She turned to look who was coming in the room and seen me and her eyes lit up and she said “ven y dame un abrazo mi rey.” A few hours later she passed away.

That moment has had a ripple effect in my life to this day.

Last week Alfredo talked about Jesus’ final moments with his disciples and Jesus told them to love one another and by loving one another it will cause a ripple effect in the world. One of the ways Alfredo talked about showing love to others is by being hospitable and welcoming.

Today, I want to read some final words from the Apostle Peter to followers of Jesus who were scattered throughout Asia Minor because of persecution.

1 Peter 4:7–11 (ESV)

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles 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.

7 Mas el fin de todas las cosas se acerca[e]; sed pues prudentes y de espíritu sobrio para la oración[f]. 8 Sobre todo, sed fervientes en vuestro amor los unos por los otros, pues el amor cubre multitud de pecados.9 Sed hospitalarios los unos para con los otros, sin murmuraciones[g].10 Según cada uno ha recibido un don especial, úselo sirviéndoos los unos a los otros como buenos administradores de la multiforme gracia de Dios.11 El que habla, que hable conforme a[h] las palabras de Dios; el que sirve[i], que lo haga por[j] la fortaleza que Dios da, para que en todo Dios sea glorificado mediante Jesucristo, a quien pertenecen la gloria y el dominio por los siglos de los siglos. Amén.

Peter writing to these churches tells them, the end is near, but that is not all he says, Peter encourages them to live a certain way. Maybe when Peter was writing this he remembered Jesus words and his final night with them. Maybe he remembered Jesus washing their feet and speaking about loving one another.

The reason I think Peter is remembering Jesus’ final night because Peter’s encouragement covers much of the same topics Jesus spoke.

Jesus spoke to Peter about:

Watching and Praying

Love one another earnestly by being hospitable without complaining.

Jesus also talked about serving, which is what we are going to focus on this morning. Every follower of Jesus is called to serve. We learn some important truths from our passage about serving that I want to highlight this morning.

Truth #1: We have all been given gifts of grace which show the diversity of God’s grace towards us.

Every believer is blessed by God with natural abilities and supernatural gifts. Peter says “as each has received a gift”. We have all been given gifts to serve the body of Christ. Every one of you have natural abilities and God given gifts and you were given them for a purpose.

One of those purposes is to show the diversity of God’s grace. When you serve you are displaying the grace of God for others to see and experience. We have an awesome group of volunteers and FE and FWLR and we thank you for all you do to serve our body. There is something beautiful coming into church Sunday morning and seeing everyone using their gifts to serve the body of Christ. Each person using their gifts of grace displays the diversity of God’s grace towards the church.

When we each come together and use our gifts of grace to serve one another, it is like we are serving God’s grace to the recipients of our service. When you are welcomed by the greeters, you are greeted by God’s grace. When you drop off your kids at FSK, you and your children are experiencing God’s grace. When the tech crew is serving you are experiencing God’s grace. When you hear from the teaching team, you are experiencing God’s grace. When we use our gifts we are displaying and experiencing the diversity of God’s grace towards us.

Truth #2: We are to use our gifts to serve one another.

Peter says you have been given a gift, now use it to serve one another. God has blessed you with natural abilities and supernatural gifts. we are to use them to serve one another.

Jesus himself said;

Matthew 20:28 (ESV)

even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

así como el Hijo del Hombre no vino para ser servido, sino para servir y para dar su vida en rescate por muchos.

Jesus came to serve, when we read the Gospels we see his life was a life of service.

Paul writing to the church of Phillipi,

Philippians 2:5 (ESV)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Haya, pues, en vosotros esta actitud que hubo también en Cristo Jesús,

We are to have the mind of Christ, Paul goes on to say that he left heaven and took on the form of servant. We are called to have the same posture and attitude to serve like Jesus served.

There are two issues which cause me grief when I think about this issue of using your gifts to serve the body of Christ. The first is a believer who has natural abilities and supernatural gifts, but does not use them to serve the church. Peter final words to you is you have a gifts of grace to serve the body use them!

The second issue that causes me grief is something I have seen some churches, where believers are not free to use their gifts to serve the body. Peter’s final word to the church is use your gifts to serve the church.

We are called to have the same attitude of Jesus and use our natural abilities and supernatural gifts to serve one another

Truth #3: God is the giver we are his stewards.

God is the giver of these natural abilities and gifts, we are his stewards. Steward is a word we do not use very often any more but it describes a servant has the responsibility to manage household business. The stewards office has two doors. on the one hand, the steward is accountable to the owner, he is to do his best to manage the owners business. On the other hand he is a manager, responsible for managing the business affairs and exercising the owners authority.

In regards to using our abilities and gifts, we are God’s stewards we are accountable to him for the use of our gifts to serve others. We are also responsible to faithfully serve the church as the owner, Jesus would serve the church. This is a high calling for all believers.

Truth #4: God strengthens us to serve one another.

Peter says,

1 Peter 4:11 (ESV)

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

God supplies the strength we need when we serve one another. I have experienced this time and time again. When I have been tired and exhausted and I serve in some capacity God provides the strength to follow through with serving. God commands us to serve and at the same time God provides the strength to follow through with our service to him, when we serve one another.

Truth #5 When we serve one another God is glorified through Jesus.

Peter says the purpose for us serving one another with our gifts is “in order that (purpose clause) in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

When we use our gifts to serve one another, God is glorified. When we serve one another the beauty of God is lifted up and put on display for all to see. God is glorified through us when we serve one another.

Something that cause me to ask myself as I was reading this, is that Peter says “God is glorified through Jesus Christ.” Why does Peter says God is glorified through Jesus Christ? Why doesn’t he just say God is glorified.

I couldn’t help to think of this passage in Ephesians 4:4-8

Ephesians 4:4–8 (ESV)

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,

and he gave gifts to men.”

4 Hay un solo cuerpo y un solo Espíritu, así como también vosotros fuisteis llamados en una misma esperanza de vuestra vocación; 5 un solo Señor, una sola fe, un solo bautismo, 6 un solo Dios y Padre de todos, que está sobre todos, por todos y en todos. 7 Pero a cada uno de nosotros se nos ha concedido la gracia conforme a la medida del don de Cristo. 8 Por tanto, dice:

Cuando ascendió a lo alto, llevó cautiva una hueste de cautivos, y dio dones a los hombres.

Paul is quoting Psalms 68 in this passage, Psalm 68 is a victory hymn written by David after he conquered a Jebusite city. Psalm 68 describes a victory parade up to Mount Zion. On this victory parade, historically the king would come back with the trophies of victory, which included , livestock, weapons and enemy prisoners, to display that they were victorious. In addition, if there were any of his own soldiers that were captured by the enemy, the king would bring them back and parade them before the crowd as well. Theses were often referred to as recaptured captives - prisoners that have been take captive by their own king and then given freedom.

Paul takes Psalms 68 and applies it to Jesus, Jesus’ death and resurrection, makes Jesus the victorious King. Victorious over death, sin and satan. Christ in his victory is also putting on display those “recaptured captives” people who were bound by sin and satan but have been set free by Jesus’ victory on the cross. When we place our trust in him, we become part of Jesus’ victory parade, we are one of the recaptured captives, set free by Jesus. Not only are we set free but we are also given gifts according to the measure of Christ’s gifts. The cross of Christ not only recaptures the captive, but because we are recaptured by Jesus, he blesses with gifts and we are set free to serve one another.

Jesus is ruling in heaven and there is a massive parade of all the recaptured captives, who are free and using there gifts to serve one another. All of this is bringing Glory to God through Jesus Christ.