Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/cbc/sermons/18336/christian-weirdos-live-for-future-grace/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] No Kindergarten Thank you. [1:00] I am a sinner, your blameless Lord. My sins against you can't be ignored. [1:18] They will be punished. I know they must. Your law demands it. [1:31] For you are just. If you would count everything that I've done wrong. [1:43] Who could stand that there's forgiveness with you, God? Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. [1:59] A broken and a contrite hope you won't turn away. Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. [2:16] Because of your steadfast love. I need your mercy, Lord. Pour out your steadfast love. [2:35] Father of mercy. You gave your son. To make atonement. For wrongs I have done. [2:53] What you require. Jesus fulfill. And I don't deserve it. And I never will. [3:09] Oh, if you would count everything that I've done wrong. Who could stand that there's forgiveness with you, God? [3:26] Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. A broken and a contrite hope you won't turn away. [3:40] Oh, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. [3:51] Because of your steadfast love. I put my trust. Cause of your steadfast love. [4:15] My steadfast love. I'm a steadfast love. You've come. Have mercy on me. I'm a sinner in need. [4:29] Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. A broken and a contrite, you won't turn away. [4:45] Have mercy on me. Have mercy on me. Because of your steadfast love. [5:02] Because of your steadfast love. Thank you. [5:22] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [6:00] Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea A great high priest whose name is love Whoever lives and pleads for me My name is graven on his hands My name is written on his heart I know that right in heaven he stands No tongue can live, we then stay part No tongue can live, we then stay part [7:00] When Satan tempts me to despair Who tells me of the guilt within A word I lack and see him there Who made an end of all my sin Because the sinless Savior died My sinful soul is counted free For God the justice satisfied To look on him and pardon me To look on him and pardon me And finish my evil [8:10] And have only been in the sea And have only placed in the sea If you love the all dying You things are Scientists are not afraid You don't have fear And have only ABOUT η Behold Him there, the risen Lamb My perfect spotless righteousness The great unchangeable I am The King of glory and of grace One with Himself I cannot die My soul is purchased by His blood [9:14] My life is filled with Christ on high With Christ my Savior and my God One with Himself I cannot die My soul is purchased by His blood My life is filled with Christ on high With Christ my Savior and my God With Christ my Savior and my God With Christ my Savior and my God My jed conflict for His blood With Christ my Savior and my Father With Christ my Savior and my heart My épice is filled with Christ on high With Christ my Savior and the Gr içinde [10:17] And be for Christ my Savior and my God Thank you. [10:51] Thank you. [11:21] Thank you. [11:51] Thank you. [12:21] Thank you. [12:51] Thank you. [13:21] Thank you. [13:51] Thank you. [14:21] Thank you. [14:51] Thank you. [15:21] Thank you. [15:51] Thank you. [16:21] Thank you. [16:51] Thank you. [17:21] Thank you. [17:51] Thank you. [18:21] Thank you. [18:51] Thank you. [19:21] Thank you. [19:51] Thank you. [20:21] Thank you. [20:51] Thank you. [21:21] Thank you. [21:51] Thank you. [22:21] Thank you. [22:51] Thank you. [23:21] Thank you. [23:51] Thank you. [24:21] Thank you. [24:51] Thank you. [25:21] Thank you. [25:51] Thank you. [26:21] Thank you. [26:51] Thank you. [27:20] Thank you. [27:50] Thank you. [28:20] Thank you. [28:50] Thank you. [29:20] Thank you. [29:50] Thank you. [30:20] Thank you. [30:50] Thank you. [31:20] Thank you. [31:50] Thank you. [32:20] Thank you. [32:50] Thank you. [33:20] Thank you. [33:50] Thank you. [34:20] Thank you. [34:50] Thank you. [35:20] Thank you. [35:50] Thank you. [36:20] Thank you. [36:50] Thank you. [37:20] Thank you. [37:50] Thank you. [38:20] Thank you. [38:50] We want to know you. [39:20] We need to know you. [39:50] Thank you. [40:20] Thank you. [40:50] Thank you. [41:20] I live again. [41:50] Thank you. [42:20] Thank you. [42:50] Love you. [43:20] I live again. [43:50] Thank you. [44:20] Thank you. [44:50] Thank you. [45:20] Thank you. [45:50] Thank you. [46:20] Thank you. [46:50] Thank you. [47:20] Thank you. [47:50] You are the glorious Christ. [48:20] Thank you. [48:50] Thank you. [49:20] Thank you. [49:50] Thank you. [50:20] Thank you. [50:50] Thank you. [51:20] Thank you. [51:50] Thank you. [52:20] Thank you. [52:50] Thank you. [53:20] Thank you. [53:50] Thank you. [54:20] Thank you. [54:50] Thank you. [55:20] Thank you. [55:50] Thank you. [56:20] Thank you. [56:50] Thank you. [57:20] Thank you. [57:50] Thank you. [58:20] Thank you. [58:50] Thank you. [59:20] Thank you. [59:50] Thank you. [60:20] Thank you. [60:50] Thank you. [61:20] Thank you. [61:50] Thank you. [62:20] Thank you. [62:50] Thank you. [63:20] Thank you. [63:50] Thank you. [64:20] Thank you. [64:50] Thank you. [65:20] Thank you. [65:50] Thank you. [66:20] Thank you. [66:50] Thank you. [67:20] Thank you. [67:50] Thank you. [68:20] Thank you. [68:50] Thank you. [69:20] Thank you. [69:50] Thank you. [70:20] Thank you. [70:50] Thank you. [71:20] Thank you. [71:50] Thank you. [72:20] Thank you. [72:50] Thank you. [73:20] Thank you. [73:50] Thank you. [74:20] Thank you. [74:50] Thank you. [75:20] Thank you. [75:50] Thank you. [76:20] Thank you. [76:50] Thank you. [77:20] Thank you. [77:50] Thank you. [78:20] Thank you. [78:50] Thank you. [79:50] Thank you. [80:20] Thank you. [80:50] Thank you. [81:20] Thank you. [81:50] Thank you. [82:20] Thank you. [82:50] Thank you. [83:20] Thank you. [83:50] Thank you. [84:20] Thank you. [84:50] Thank you. [85:20] Thank you. [85:50] Thank you. [86:20] Thank you. [87:20] Thank you. [87:50] Thank you. [88:20] Thank you. [88:50] Thank you. [89:20] Thank you. [89:50] Thank you. [90:20] Thank you. [90:50] Thank you. [91:20] Thank you. [91:50] Thank you. [92:20] Thank you. [92:50] Thank you. [93:20] Thank you. [93:50] Thank you. [94:20] Thank you. [94:50] Thank you. [95:20] Thank you. [95:50] Thank you. [96:20] Thank you. [96:50] Thank you. [97:20] Thank you. [97:50] Thank you. [98:20] Thank you. [98:50] Thank you. [99:20] Thank you. [99:50] Thank you. [100:20] Thank you. [100:50] May you. Thank you. [101:50] Thank you. [102:20] Thank you. Thank you. [103:20] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. [104:20] Thank you. [104:50] Thank you. [105:20] Groundhog Day with Bill Murray? It's kind of like that. Until they understood it was about giving and being grateful. I'm bringing this up because what they knew was going to happen the next day was Christmas. [105:34] They knew the future and at first they were like, oh, this is great, blah, blah, blah. And then they said, wait a second, what are we doing? The next day, what come, it should be Christmas. Everything changed for them. [105:45] And their whole conduct changed because they knew what was coming to the future. What if you knew the future? Would that change how you lived or acted? [106:00] What if you knew you would contract cancer this year? Your doctor's appointment is coming up in March. And the doctor says, you know, I have some terrible news for you. [106:12] You've contracted cancer. I gave you three to six months to live. How would that change the way you treated people? How would that change the way you lived your life? [106:24] Would it change the way you lived your life? Why? How? How? As Christians, we know the future, don't we? [106:36] We know that Jesus wins in the end and we get to be with him when he wins. And that knowledge should change the way we live our lives. [106:48] Shouldn't it? It should change the way we treat each other. It should change the way we serve. It should change our thinking. [106:59] It should change our words. It should change our actions. As we'll see here in this passage, it's exactly where Peter's going. 1 Peter, we've seen how by God's grace, we are called to be wise, winsome weirdos in this wicked world. [107:19] They'll think of us as weirdos because we follow this guy named Jesus who died on a cross and we believe and evidence attains to the fact that he resurrected from the dead. [107:31] They think you're a nutcase because you believe in that and you live like that. But that's what Peter calls us to do. Be a weirdo. And here in verses 4 through 7, excuse me, chapter 4, 7 through 11, we're gonna see how Christian weirdos, we live for future grace. [107:51] And I take that future grace from chapter 1 verse 13 where Peter says, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you with the revelation of Jesus Christ. the future grace we're talking about is his second coming. [108:07] Christian weirdos, we live for future grace. We live with future grace in mind. We know the future. It changes the way we live. [108:18] Here's a statement for you. Because of God's future grace coming at Jesus' return, Christians will be wise when some weirdos in this wicked world, they will live drastically different lives in four different ways. [108:37] Jesus will return. So, watch unto prayer, show love, display hospitality, use your gifts, all for God's glory. [108:49] There's the message in one sentence. Let's close in prayer. No, no, no. As a result of the fact that Jesus Christ will return, Peter's gonna give us four ways to live within the new believing community. [109:08] As we wait for Christ to come back, we should display exemplary conduct. Because of God's grace, we're commanded to live wise, winsome, irreproachable lives. [109:21] That's what we're called to do. Christ's future coming grace challenges us to watch, pray, and live different lives. [109:36] Are you ready for Christ to return? Are you ready for Him to come back? Which, by the way, assumes that He was already here. [109:47] Which means He's still, which means He's alive. Which means He resurrected. Which means that He died. Which means there was an incarnation. And all backtracks, right? This is the Jesus we believe. [110:01] He will return. If you're ready, then let's be self-controlled. Watch and pray. Be constant in our love. Let's be hospitable. And be faithful stewards of the gifts God has given to us all for His glory. [110:15] That's what He's gonna bring up. That's what He's gonna talk about. So the first point He wants to drive home is Jesus will return. Verse 7. [110:27] The end of all things is at hand, or is near. Christ's coming is imminent. Not in the sense that Peter, or the other writers of the New Testament, expected it to happen in their lifetime. [110:41] You'll read about that in some commentaries. You even watch that on the Historic Channel, History Channel. They'll say that the apostles thought Jesus was gonna come back right then. They really believe that. No, they just believed it was imminent. [110:55] He could come back at any time. Because of all, because all, excuse me, has already taken place, we have every reason to expect Christ to come soon. [111:10] Everything has already happened. His imminent coming, it's the basis for these commands in the sense that all these things have already taken place. Creation, fall, flood. Jesus has come, lived, died. [111:23] He's resurrected. The kingdom has come, and the spiritual sense, now we're waiting. It's inevitable. Christ's coming, his first coming has inaugurated the last days. [111:38] We are in the last days. God promises, his promises according to his plan, have been accomplished. Creation, fall, flood, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. [111:49] The goal to which all these events have been leading is done. Now there's one thing that's gonna happen that's gonna kick into cure all the other things that are gonna take place. [112:01] Jesus is gonna return. So when he returns, all these other things are gonna happen. So we're waiting expectantly. His coming's imminent. He could come at any time. [112:15] The next event to happen is his return. It's inevitable. It will happen. Kind of like a wedding. Not that that's on my mind. [112:26] But let's just say, for example, it will happen. His coming will happen. Are you ready? If you're here, you're not a follower of Jesus. [112:40] Jesus will come. Are you ready? Have you responded to the gospel? Have you turned from sin and put your trust in Jesus Christ? [112:51] God is so gracious. God doesn't welcome people who think they're good. God welcomes people who know they're bad. God. And they humble themselves. [113:02] They say, please save me. I need you. If you don't know Christ, if you don't know Jesus, come. Repent and trust in Jesus. His arms are wide open to you. [113:15] He will save you and show you compassion. He will come. Come to know him before he comes. So realizing, realizing that the end of the age could happen at any time, we should act in a certain way, Christian. [113:37] And I'll say Christian, but even specifying it even more specifically, member of Cottonwood Bible Church. This is all Christians, but especially if you're a member here, this is really directed at you even more so. [113:52] We should have a sense of urgency and the four commands because Jesus can return at any moment. So what are the four commands? [114:05] Well, Jesus will return, so watch unto prayer, unto meaning for the purpose of. That's the Greek word, ace, which is the word that he uses here. [114:19] Based upon the fact that Jesus is coming soon, do this. He's coming. Be of sound mind or sensible. [114:30] Therefore, be of sound judgment. Have an attitude of prudence. Given the different circumstances we might find ourselves, act appropriately or think in a level-headed way. [114:44] That's what the word means, be of sound judgment. Think sensibly. And then another word he uses, so that's one Greek word, be of sound judgment. [114:57] Another Greek word is be sober or stay alert. Contrast this with the wild, crazy living of the pagans that he talked about in verse three. [115:09] So be of sound mind or sensible. Be clear-headed, alert, clear. Have mental alertness. [115:23] It's like when you have four or five cups of coffee in two hours. You're like, aware. Take away the shaking part. But I tell you, it's hard to be alert. [115:36] The word comes from being sober. Not being intoxicated. It's hard to be attentive if you got a little buzz from the alcohol, right? [115:49] It's hard to be attentive and alert and watching if you've smoked too much weed. And I'm not saying this in jest. [115:59] I'm being serious. Because we take in these things and yet Peter's saying, be alert and attentive. Be level-headed. [116:12] Be clear-headed. Watch. We need to be clear-minded and self-controlled for good, solid prayer. [116:26] because he says, be of sound judgment and sober for the purpose of prayer or unto prayer. The goal or the purpose of this urgent vigilance is prayers. [116:45] It's actually plural. Vigilant in order to pray. You can even say vigilant unto prayer. You can put that down as the point. [116:57] We must be prudent and vigilant so that we can pray. This is how we live in the present in light of the future. We're praying. We're watching. We're alert and we're praying. [117:08] Every opportunity, we're praying. Every situation, we pray. We have a realistic view of the world and we're staying alert and then we pray. [117:20] Prayers where we cry out to God seeing circumstances from his perspective and asking for his wisdom in all situations. [117:34] What situation do you find yourself in today? Pray. It's like what Jesus told his disciples. Remember in the garden? [117:46] He took Peter, James, and John and he said, watch and pray so you will not enter into temptation. Pray. Watch. [117:57] Be alert. It's hard to do that when you're sleepy. It's hard to do that when you're intoxicated. He wants us to pray more effectively, to pray more appropriately. [118:11] This should be our response. When you read the daily news, you hear about a political situation, you're driving to work, driving home from work, you're reading to your kids, you're going grocery shopping, we're alert, we're attentive so we can pray. [118:39] So see, we have a future outlook because Jesus is going to return, we watch unto prayer. That's the first command. Second, show love. [118:54] Verse eight. Above all, New American Standard says keep fervent in your love for one another. Literally, it's actually be constant. That's a better translation. [119:06] Or, be persevering in your love. As we are prudent and serious, we take seriously loving each other within the Christian community. [119:21] Friends, this kind of love is so important. We care for each other's needs with a growing sense of affection for them in spite of the offenses. Keep your love for one another constant. [119:37] This should be above all, he says. Constant love must be maintained within the Christian community. And notice the reason that he gives the next part of verse eight. [119:53] Because love covers a multitude of sins. Constant love must be maintained within the Christian community in this local church. [120:08] The reason is it covers or hides a multitude of sins in that it forgives. Love minimizes wrongs by refusing to take offense. [120:23] One does not retaliate. You don't let things bother you. You just don't let things bother you. [120:33] That's hard. We should be willing to overlook each other's faults which is hard. [120:47] Especially when you don't see the world the way I see it. You see it in the wrong way. Oh, we don't think that way, do we? We can find numerous offenses with each other real or imagined, can't we? [121:07] Now, it's easy to just brush things aside as, well, these are sins committed against us. But you know what? This should apply to things that annoy or irritate us. Show love despite people's weaknesses and shortcomings. [121:23] See, when love abounds within a local church, small offenses and sometimes even larger ones are overlooked, forgotten, and or forgiven. [121:35] It should simply be part of our DNA as a church body. It should be part of our DNA. We should just let things go. We're learning about this in our Wednesday night study, changing your relationships and how the automatic reaction to judgmentalism, negativity, criticism. [122:02] Notice what Peter's saying here. Have an eternal perspective. Jesus is going to return. We're looking forward to future grace and because we know the future, that should change the way we live. [122:19] We'll watch unto prayer and we'll show love. We'll let those idiotic, ridiculous offenses let them go. [122:35] And by the way, it's good for us to actually practice saying, I forgive you, instead of merely saying that's okay or no problem or doesn't matter, don't mention it. We probably should say the biblical words, right? [122:52] So if this doesn't step on your toes, wait till we look at the next verse. Command number three, Jesus will return, so display hospitality, verse nine, be hospitable to one another without complaint. [123:05] hospitality within the Christian community and do it without grumbling or complaining or murmuring is what the word means. Actually, this could be the first way you display love for each other is by showing hospitality. [123:21] Show hospitality without resenting the time it takes or the expenses involved. It's not just merely towards visitors. [123:32] that should happen. But to command is an action within the Christian community. We should be reaching out to each other, spending time with each other, challenging each other. [123:50] Love finds its practical expression in showing hospitality toward each other. So it means you go beyond just a Sunday morning service, friends. [124:02] We should be having people into our home and not just the people we want to be with. We should be regularly meeting in each other's homes, maybe for a cup of coffee, tea, play a game, a small meal, dot, dot, dot. [124:26] That's what hospitality is. Connecting with each other. Look, if we want to build as a church and grow and be a healthier church, we should watch them to prayer, we should show love and be hospitable to each other. [124:47] Do we want to be a strong, healthy, God-glorifying church? We should be clear-headed and alert to pray, show amazing love and be hospitable to each other. [124:59] together. And then the fourth point, now this is really going to step on our toes. We should use our gifts. That's the fourth one. [125:14] Use your gift, not a gift or gifts, because you might have more than one. That is possible. verse 10, as each one has received a gift, you're serving within the Christian community, possibly a second one you're loving within the believing community, insofar as each one has received a charisma, that's the Greek word for gift, charisma, which comes from the word charis, which means grace. [125:48] God has shown grace to us in the Lord Jesus Christ by saving us, amen, amen, by giving us the power to change, amen, amen, and by giving us a gift to use to serve. [126:11] It's a gracious gift to be shared and must be passed on to others. that's why Peter uses that word charisma, gift. [126:23] God has been so giving to us in Christ, right? He's given us grace, he's given us the Father, Christ, Christ has come, he's died, he's resurrected, repent and trust in him, and now he gives us gift or gifts, so you can be giving towards each other. [126:52] We are agents, God's agents, God's hands, feet, eyes, ears, and passing on to each other this ministry. You're God's hands to each other, you're his mouth, you're his ears. [127:11] Serve them, God's God's gift. It's for their good. It's not to draw attention, but to benefit them out of the grace given to you. [127:25] As each one has received a charisma, employ it in serving one another. And these are God-given abilities to carry out ministry within the Christian community. [127:41] Gifts of grace using it in serving one another. Not necessarily natural abilities. You might say, well, I have that natural ability. [127:52] No, not necessarily. Is that connected to this? It's a gift. It's an ability given by the spirits given to you. The manner in which these gifts should proceed is using them notice, he says, as the New American Standard says, good stewards of the manifold grace of God. [128:18] The word actually means faithful. We are called to be faithful, trusted servants who are responsible to manage our gifts within God's household. [128:37] In other words, the way we manage our gift or gifts is by using them. We're called to be faithful. [128:55] Let me say something to you, specifically members. members graciously say to you, if you as a member of Cottonwood Bible Church are not serving in some capacity at Cottonwood Bible Church, then you're not being a faithful steward of the gifts that God has given you. [129:15] You're not. That's what Peter's saying. That's not Jim. I'm just a messenger. That's what Peter's saying. [129:26] And notice the type of gifts. He says the manifold or the various or the diverse gifts or excuse me, grace of God. [129:41] Diverse grace. Various gifts. The gifts given to believers to build up and edify the church are diverse. [129:56] They're various. We all have different gifts that God has given us. Find it. Use it. That's what you got to do. Where do I start? [130:08] You might say. Start serving. Find an area and serve. Well, I signed up for the ministry opportunity. No. It goes beyond that. [130:22] It goes way beyond that. I'm going to bring this up in just a moment. We're not just talking about general things. All of us are supposed to serve. [130:35] All of us are supposed to give the gospel, right? All of us are supposed to give, like giving, supposed to give. All of us are supposed to be hospitable. But then some of us have that gift of generosity. [130:50] Some of us have that certain speaking gift to teach. Some of us have that certain specific gift to evangelize. And notice what Peter does. [131:02] Look at verse 11. There's two different kinds of gifts. Whoever speaks as it were the words of God, whoever serves by the strength which God supplies. There's two categories you give. [131:12] Speaking gifts, serving gifts. The point, you should be speaking or serving. In the New Testament, there's five different lists given of spiritual gifts. [131:26] Romans 12, we read that this morning. 1 Corinthians 12, it has two different lists. That's one, two. You have Ephesians chapter 4, and then here. [131:38] it doesn't just relegate it just to those. It's not just those things. [131:48] And like I said, it's not just, well, I don't have to give evangelism, so I can't give somebody the gospel. That's not how it works, friend. [132:01] Everyone's supposed to give the gospel. Everyone's supposed to be giving. all of us are supposed to be teaching each other, right? We're all supposed to be teaching each other. [132:13] What Paul says in Ephesians chapter 5 and Colossians chapter 3, but we should welcome a variety of ministries and ways to use our gifts. [132:27] We should be willing to think outside the box. Are we willing to do that? How has God gifted you to minister in a specific way in this local church? [132:39] How has he done that? If any, speak. This covers a variety of speaking gifts in order to build up the body. [132:54] Peter says to do it as one who's speaking the oracles or the very words of God. So you treat this ministry of speaking seriously. You take it seriously. look, if you have a speaking gift, God calls you to use it. [133:15] Do it. If you at all believe that God has gifted you in some kind of speaking gift, that you should do it, else you are not glorifying God. Do you understand this? [133:29] That's what he says. so all things will be done to the glory of God. And if you're not using your giftedness, you're not glorifying God. Do you see that? [133:42] That's hard to take in. If any serves, these are serving or practical ministries. [133:54] So you treat the ministry of serving seriously too. Drawing strength, he says, as by the strength which God supplies or provides. [134:05] God bountifully or generously gives all we need to be able to utilize our gift or gifts within the body. This local church. [134:16] If you're a member here, you should be serving using your gifts. Flat out, hands down. God is the source of all that he requires for true biblical successful Christian ministry. [134:30] He's the source. You might say, I don't know, I might mess it up. Don't worry about that. God's the source of the power. He will provide it for you. [134:44] He's responsible for your gifts. He's the one who gave it to you for crying out loud. The words are his, his strength are his, it's all about God. [134:54] it's not about you and it's not about me. God will supply you with the necessary strength to do the task, whether it's ministering the word of God or serving. [135:13] We can rely on God to provide us what is necessary to display that gift and to use that gift. So if you have a serving gift, God calls you to use it. [135:26] Do it. If you at all believe God has gifted you in some kind of serving gift, then you must do it as you're not glorifying God. [135:40] And again, friends, it's just not signing up for the ministry opportunities. Can it go beyond that? Shouldn't it go beyond that? [135:59] Notice what he says here towards the end of verse 11. So that, this is the purpose, which leads to this last point, all for God's glory, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. [136:14] The purpose for your speaking gift or gifts, the purpose for your serving gift or gifts, is that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, that is through his redemption. [136:27] Once again, Peter's trying to get our thinking into the motivation, the gospel, God's grace to us in the gospel is the motivation behind this. [136:41] God has been so good to you in Christ, right? God's been so kind to you in Christ, so you can display the same kindness to each other by serving each other, by ministering to each other. [137:00] And Peter's not merely giving you suggestions. God commands you through Peter to speak. Use your gifts. God commands you through Peter to serve. [137:14] And listen, in every occasion of ministry, God's glory or his reputation is displayed or enhanced or glaringly revealed. In the instances where we do not minister, God's glory is diminished. [137:38] It's concealed. So there's, when we have attitudes of service, love, grace, ministry, that truly glorifies God. [137:52] Being serious, alert, loving, hospitable, and serving, that glorifies God. He loves it. It puts his glory on display like a ring at a shop with a huge diamond on it just glaring. [138:12] Oh, it's so bright from the sun, I can't, I walk by it and I have to cover my hands because of the glare. That's what happens when you are ministering your gifts in the body. [138:26] The glory of God is shining. if you as a member of Cotwood Bible Church, if you're not serving in some capacity, you are not being a faithful steward. [138:43] You're not a faithful steward who's glorifying God in this vital aspect of your life. Really, the vital aspect in the life of this church. Look at the list. [138:57] Begin to serve. Ask and let me help you. Can I help you? Can I direct you? Can I guide you? That's what we looked at the first hour. Elders or pastors, we're here to help guide and teach. [139:12] Let me help you to be guided to where you can serve, guided in where you can go. What gifts do you have? We are the church. [139:29] members, listen, you gotta own this thing, man. You gotta own this. We should not expect us as a church to grow if we're not willing to serve each other with our gifts. [139:48] We will not grow. And I mean numerically because God will not be glorified. take it and run with it. [140:03] I say this graciously to you. I say graciously to you that the complacency needs to stop. And you guys gotta own this thing. [140:20] It needs to stop. It needs to cease and let's move forward. now. Now, I wanna be careful because take example, the gift of teaching. [140:38] Well, I can't give a sermon. I'm not asking you to give a sermon. That'd be nice. I'd get a Sunday off. I'll admit that. But maybe if you meet with someone one-on-one, that's teaching, friend. [140:58] You're teaching them. That's just counseling. So you're doing. That's teaching. Now, again, I'm not talking about Peter. [141:10] I'm not talking about the things we're all commanded. to do. We're all commanded to teach each other in some way, shape, or form. We're all commanded to give the gospel. Hey, I'm part of serving by cleaning the church building. [141:25] Okay. Maybe you have the gift of service. But think outside the box. Can't it go beyond that? here's another important point. [141:44] What if you can't serve? What can you do? You can pray. What does Ann do? You know how hard it is for her to, as I'm preaching, and she's looking at this, she's saying, I wish I could serve. [142:00] I can't. I can't even get out of bed. What does she do? She serves you by praying for you. You know that? [142:11] I'm convinced. The only reason why we've been able to survive such a tumultuous time of the past decade is because Ann has been praying. [142:24] Her and others of you have been praying. praying. Pray these four different aspects. Pray for us to stay, for us as a church to stay faithful, pure, godly, gospel focused, et cetera, et cetera. [142:48] And notice what Peter does. The end of verse 11, to whom belongs the glory and power forever and ever. Whether this is directed to God, which is more likely, or to Jesus Christ, that doesn't matter. [143:02] He's stating a fact, not a wish. God's going to be glorified. All strength, all power, all glory belongs to God. [143:17] And then he says amen, which means an affirmation. Yes! So can you say amen with me? Amen! [143:27] Amen! Yes! Okay, can you say amen because you will begin to love and serve the body? [143:39] Can you say amen to that? Can you say amen because you will begin to use your speaking gift or gifts? Can you say amen because you will begin to use your serving gift or gifts? [143:50] can you say amen because you will begin to watch unto prayer because you will begin to love and let go of those offenses because you will begin to show hospitality instead of being selfish with your time and money. [144:08] see when we get practical toes get stepped on hard things to look at. You're the church not me. [144:22] we are the church together. Members you gotta own this. Let's move forward. Let's move forward. [144:34] Father help us. Encourage us we pray when you were encouraged from your word and hearts pricked convicted and even in the midst of that help me help us help us to not be judging and critical but instead to have such joy. [145:04] Here are the members 40 of us take us and use us shine your glory in us. [145:16] We're waiting for you Jesus to come so we want to be attentive so we can pray. We want to show love because it covers those offenses. [145:33] We want to be hospitable without murmuring over what can happen. We want to use our gift gifts. [145:43] So in all things as Peter says in all things you oh God will be glorified. [145:59] Take some time. Think, pray, ponder what we've seen in these few verses this morning. and after some time we'll do our worship of giving. [146:17] Sing in our last two songs and closing prayer. But ponder, think about what Peter has told us, what God has told us in his word this morning. [146:29] God Thank you. [147:01] Thank you. [147:31] Thank you. [148:01] Thank you. [148:31] Thank you. [149:01] Thank you. Thank you. [150:01] Thank you. [150:31] Thank you. [151:01] Thank you. [151:31] Thank you. [152:01] Thank you. [152:31] Thank you. [153:01] Thank you. [153:31] Thank you. [154:01] Thank you. [154:31] Thank you. [155:01] Thank you. [155:31] Thank you. [156:01] Thank you. [156:31] Thank you.