Rev. David Holwick ZC
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 14, 1997
1 Peter 4:7-11
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I. Honor Student.
A. Rebecca starting high school after nine years of homeschooling.
1) For us, like Kindergarten.
a) Will it all be over her head?
b) Will other kids talk to her?
c) Will she be a miserable failure?
2) "How was school today?" - "Boring."
B. We all want our kids to be gifted.
1) So we can paste a "Parent of Honor Student" bumper sticker.
2) In God's eyes, all believers are gifted.
3) Not to bring glory to ourselves, but to others and God.
II. The end is near! 4:7
A. The motivation of the Second Coming.
1) Believers have always viewed it as near.
a) Prophets had a shortened perspective.
2) Others think not so much end in view, as transience of life.
a) Either way, notice that Peter uses it to encourage godly
behavior, not other-worldliness.
B. Live like Jesus is just around the corner.
1) Be disciplined.
a) Even the world admires a disciplined person.
2) Be prayerful.
a) Lack of control in your life will show up here first.
III. Love deeply. 4:8
A. We should be more outward than inward.
1) Personal piety, stressed by evangelicals is important.
a) But inwardness can be deadly.
2) The greatest sign of spirituality is how much you love.
a) Examples of Mother Theresa, Princess Diane.
1> Their clothes, fame, beauty not highlighted.
2> It's what they did for others that is remembered.
b) What will YOU be remembered for?
B. Love covers a multitude of sins.
1) Whose sins are covered?
a) By loving, our own sins are atoned for.
1> Jews came to see love as having atoning power.
A> They no longer had Temple, sacrifices.
2> Jesus said we cannot be saved by things we do.
A> But he also said only forgiving people will be
forgiven.
b) In love, we overlook sins of others.
1> Probably original meaning in Proverbs, and here.
2> The more love we have, the more garbage we can put
up with.
C. Practical love: hospitality. 4:9
1) Examples of hospitality.
a) Important in early church due to conditions.
b) Today, in impersonal world, hospitality can open doors
for gospel.
2) Do it without grumbling.
a) Donald Coggan, Archbishop of Canterbury:
"True Christian hospitality is making people feel at
home, when you wish they WERE at home."
b) Service shouldn't expect something in return.
1> Credit, attention, power. (celebrity charity column)
2> Do it for Lord's sake, and love's sake.
IV. Everyone has something to offer.
A. Spiritual gifts.
1) Important theme in New Testament.
a) Baptists have neglected it.
b) Monopolized by Pentecostals.
B. Received - it comes from God. 4:10
1) More than innate ability.
2) Every Christian has a gift.
3) The gifts differ (various), so every need is met.
C. Purpose is to serve others.
1) Every Christian is a minister.
a) Not just professionals.
2) Faithful administration. Matt 24:45
V. Two key gifts.
A. The gift of speaking. 4:11
1) Any form of communication for Jesus.
2) Preaching comes most to mind.
a) Not just interesting human wisdom.
b) (Liberal pastor who only preaches from newspaper.)
c) Early Christians knew God was behind what they said.
3) Charles Spurgeon was called the "Prince of Preachers."
He summed up his philosophy of preaching this way:
"Above all, [the preacher] must put heart work into his
preaching.
He must feel what he preaches.
It must never be with him an easy thing to deliver a
sermon.
He must feel as if he could preach his very life away
before the sermon is done."
Gardner Taylor, a noted black preacher from New York,
draws an illustration from the Bible.
"In the Book of Ruth, Naomi says, 'I went out full,
and I've come back empty.'"
"That's the story of life.
It's also the story of preaching; we must keep ourselves
full so we can empty ourselves in the pulpit."
#3653
4) I am not an energetic preacher, but I do take it seriously.
a) If you want entertainment, go to a movie.
b) Jesus said his words are "life."
B. Serving, with God's strength.
1) Anybody can be a servant.
a) New attenders amazed at how much goes on in church.
b) Enough for everyone to have something to do.
1> Sandwiches for homeless.
2> Senior Citizen Thanksgiving dinner.
3> Sunday School.
4> V.B.S.
2) Every little bit helps.
a) Visitation by women.
b) Ministry of helps. Phone calls...
C. What is your gift?
1) Pray for God's direction.
2) Study about gifts.
3) Encourage your leaders to evaluate their own gifts.
#3404
D. Refusing to exercise gifts.
1) You are robbing the Body of Christ.
2) You are forcing other members of the Body to carry
your load.
3) You are dead weight on the Body, dysfunctional limbs.
4) You are out of touch with the Spirit of God.
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VI. Goal is that God be praised in everything.
A. To him be glory.
1) Should not draw attention to self.
B. Does your life bring glory to God?
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Commentaries:
I. The life for God's glory. EBC
A. The end is set before Christians to encourage their faith.
1) Is near = has drawn near.
2) "Therefore" - the end has ethical implications.
a) Jesus taught responsible living concerning parousia.
b) Peter: don't give way to frenzy, but be self-controlled.
1> Peter lacked this control in prayer at Gethsemane.
B. The primacy of agape love.
1) It is a decision of the will leading to action.
2) Covers multitude of sins. Prov 10:12
a) Not atonement, but love doesn't spread sin.
1> Love suffers in silence.
b) Since we know God's grace, we forgive others.
C. Hospitality.
1) They had no motels.
2) Without grumbling - hospitality can be hard.
a) As Christians, we can accept others because we are a
spiritual family.
3) It is not one way street - every Christian can minister.
a) Every Christian has a gift.
1> At birth or rebirth? Not stated.
b) We also have a stewardship/ministry.
1> Ministry is not limited to leadership (pastor).
4) Two main manifestations of grace.
a) Speaking.
1> Speaking with authority of God. 2 Cor 5:20; 1 Th 2:13
b) Serving.
1> With strength God provides.
A> Means by dependence on God's help by Spirit.
B> "Provides" means to supply a chorus. Lavish.
D. Purpose of mutual service is to glorify God.
1) People will praise God when we serve them.
2) Rather than "to God be glory" is better "to God IS glory."
a) Isa 46:9-10.
II. The Demands of Fellowship. Best
A. The end is at hand.
1) NT uses prophecy as motive for Christian behavior, not
other-worldliness.
2) No speculation on details here.
B. Disciplined life leads to fellowship with God.
1) Above all, love.
2) Covers a multitude of sins:
a) Of the one who loves. James 5:20?
1> Jews saw almsgiving as redemptive.
2> The nature of the one who loves is open to
repentance.
b) Of the one who is loved. Best
1> 1 Cor 13:4-7 forms the best commentary on this vs.
2> The social context of 4:7-11 fits this best.
C. Practice hospitality.
1) Ungrudging.
2) Gifts.
a) "Varied" implies a greater number than two.
b) Related to hospitality in that Christians are stewards
of God's House. (2:5, 4:17)
c) Gifts...grace. Implies that they are a special endowment
and not merely inborn talents and qualities.
3) Two types.
a) Speaking.
b) Serving.
1> The source of Christian love, as of preaching, is
God himself; without God's help neither can be
accomplished.
4) To him be glory.
a) Father or Christ? Probably Father.
Copyright © 2024 by Rev. David Holwick
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