Dr. Montia Setzler, Senior Pastor
May 1, 2016
Series: It’s Your Serve
Using Your Gifts to Serve Others
1 Peter 4:7–11 (HCSB)
7 Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be serious and disciplined for prayer. 8 Above all, maintain an intense love for each other, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining. 10 Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, it should be as one who speaks God’s words; if anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
1. THESE DAYS DEMAND SERIOUS PRAYER
• When you come down to the end, it demands focus and attention.
• Serious times call for serious prayer.
2. THESE DAYS REQUIRE THAT WE LOVE MORE THAN EVER
• Our love for one another must be more intense than ever before.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 (HCSB)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not envy, is not boastful, is not conceited, 5 does not act improperly, is not selfish, is not provoked, and does not keep a record of wrongs. 6 Love finds no joy in unrighteousness but rejoices in the truth. 7 It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
• When we love one another, it makes up for the times we fail or disappoint one another.
Proverbs 10:12 (HCSB)
Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses.
3. THESE DAYS INSIST THAT WE SERVE ONE ANOTHER WITH THE GIFTS WE HAVE
• Our spiritual gifts were given to serve one another.
Galatians 5:13 (HCSB)
For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love.
• We do what we do to build up the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 10:24 (HCSB)
No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person.
Romans 15:1–2 (HCSB)
1 Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. 2 Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.
4. THESE DAYS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
• If we have been given speaking gifts, we must be careful to speak the words that come from God.
• If we have been given service gifts, we serve in God’s strength, not our own.
5. THESE DAYS REMIND US THAT ALL THAT WE DO MUST BE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
• God is not egocentric, but because He is God, everything must point to His glory.
Psalm 19:1 (HCSB)
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.
Revelation 4:11 (HCSB)
Our Lord and God, You are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because You have created all things, and because of Your will they exist and were created.
• When we use our spiritual gifts to serve God, one another and the community, we bring glory to God.
God gives each believer gifts so that we may serve one another with them. Spiritual gifts are not designed to bring us glory, rather so that God receives the glory for what He has given us.
