Graced to Lead, Called to Serve - Empowered for Purpose

1 Peter 4:1-2, 7-11&

“A vessel of Glory”

Main Points:

• You are Saved for God’s Glory

• Salvation is a mechanism for Glorification

• Transformation - focused on the will of God

• You must Serve for God’s Glory

• Prayer and Vigilance - Keys to Glorification

• A Loving Nature is the means to Overcoming -Keys to endurance and

  forgiveness

• Hospitality is an Expression of Love- A Tangible way to care)

• The Purpose of a Divine Gift- Service & Stewardship - It is other focused

• Be a Voice for God- Speak with Divine focus

• Serve from a place of Dependance - expect Divine help

• Serve with the Motive to show God’s Glory- God is the focus not you

• You must Suffer for God’s Glory

• Trials are a part of the Process - suffering is a form of glorification

• Sanctification is evidence of Transformation - suffering for evil doesn’t

  glorify God

  
  

The Call of a Minister - You are Saved for God’s Glory

Salvation is a mechanism for Glorification

(Transformation - focused on the will of God)

1 Peter 1-2 NKJV Therefore, since Christ suffered [a]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

• Your salvation was not just so that you would avoid Hell

• Your Salvation was not just so you can have your sins erased

• Your salvation was so that you can manifest the will of God

• God is glorified when others see what salvation has wrought in your life

• True salvation is mutually beneficial; you are transformed and Gods will is done

• The Call of a Minister-You must Serve for God’s Glory

Prayer and Vigilance

(Keys to Glorification)

1 Peter4:7 NKJV But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

• Without focus and consistency there is little divine communication

• Without healthy communication, there is little transformation and limited empowerment

• Without transformation and empowerment there is little glorification

A Loving Nature is the means to Overcoming

(Keys to endurance and forgiveness)

1 Peter4:8NKJV And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

• This verse is often used to emphasize the importance of love and forgiveness within a community, as love is seen as a way to overcome and forgive the faults and mistakes of others.

• Emphasis on love: The verse's opening phrase, "Above all," highlights that love is the most important virtue, taking precedence over other qualities.

• "Covers a multitude of sins": This phrase means that a deep and sincere love can overlook and forgive many offenses and shortcomings, just as love overlooks and seeks the best for others.

• A call to action: It's a command to actively and consistently show a deep and earnest love for one another, which is the foundation for creating a more forgiving and merciful community.

Hospitality is an Expression of Love

(A Tangible way to care)

1 Peter4:9NKJV 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

• Offer hospitality without grumbling: This instruction emphasizes that hospitality should be offered willingly and with a cheerful attitude, rather than reluctantly or out of obligation.

• Hospitality's context: The verse is part of a larger passage urging believers to take on Jesus' attitude toward suffering and to live differently from the world, which can sometimes make hospitality feel burdensome.

• Hospitality's purpose: Practicing hospitality is an act of love and stewardship, serving others as good stewards of God's grace in its various forms.

• Broader application: the principle of hospitality can be applied more broadly to serving and caring for others in any circumstance, as well as within the community of faith

• Rooted in love: hospitality as a keyway to express love for fellow believers.

The Purpose of a Divine Gift

(Service & Stewardship - It is other focused)

1 Peter4:10NKJV As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

• Use your gifts to serve others:

• Each person has received a unique gift and should use it to minister to others in the church and community.

• Act as a steward of God's grace:

• You are a steward, or manager, of the "manifold grace" (varied gifts) that God has given you, and you are responsible for using them wisely for the benefit of others.

  
  

Be a Voice for God

(Speak with Divine focus)

1 Peter4:11(a) NKJV If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [a]oracles of God.

• Speak God's words:

• When speaking, speak as if you are conveying the very words of God. The

• emphasis is on the message being divinely inspired, not just your own opinion.

  
  

Serve from a place of Dependance

(expect Divine help)

1 Peter4:11(b) NKJV If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies,

• Serve with God's strength:

• When serving, do so with the strength that God provides, not with your own limited ability. This means relying on divine power to fulfill your role.

  
  

Serve with the Motive to show God’s Glory

(God is the focus not you)

1 Peter4:11(c) that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [b]dominion forever and ever. Amen.

• Give glory to God:

• The ultimate purpose of using these gifts is so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. This points to the glory and power belonging to God forever.

  
  

The Call of a Minister - You must Suffer for God’s Glory

Trials are a part of the Process

(suffering is a form of glorification)

1 Peter 4:12 -14 NKJV Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [e]reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [f]On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

• Trial are a normal part of divine living in a fallen world

• Some Persons will persecute you for you faith once it is genuinely expressed

• To be insulted for God is a blessing

• To suffer for Him is an Honor that brings God Glory

  
  

Sanctification is evidence of Transformation

(suffering for evil doesn’t glorify God)

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a [g]busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this [h]matter.

• Suffering for dishonorable acts or attitudes doesn’t Glorify God

• Only suffering because of your transformed nature is Honorable

• Salvation without Sanctification dishonors God

Declarative Prayer:

1. We Declare that we are Saved for God’s Glory

2. We Declare that we will Serve for God’s Glory

3. We Declare that we may Suffer for God’s Glory

4. We Declare that we will be Sanctified for God’s Glory

   
   

   IN JESUS NAME