Preparation for Sunday night September 25

I pulled this out of the vaults from 2008 and thought it would be helpful to post it again in preparation for our survey through the Old Testament. Sorry for the formatting.

The Church is the People of God

Text: 1 Peter 2:9-10                                                         8/24/08 a.m.

Intro: The plan for tonight is to first show you from Scripture that the church is the people of God.

Then building upon that biblical truth I want to draw out some implications.

The assumptions that I am working with are these: 1. First Peter was written to Christians who formed a church. Both Jews and Gentiles were included as recipients of this letter.

2. The church was going through a great difficulty so these truths rightly understood are meant to bring hope and stability to those who were struggling. No sterile laboratory environment; this is real world stuff.

3. What is true of and for the church then is true of and for the church today.

Let’s start with Scripture.

Read 1 Peter 2:1-10

I) Exposition of 1 Peter 2:9-10

a)      You are a chosen race

i)        The word chosen emphasizes the status of the church as those who have been called out.

ii)      The word for church is eklesia. The word here for chosen is eklektos.

iii)    1 Peter 1:1 opens with the words, “Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

iv)    The church is a chosen race. Selected by God and called out by God to be different.

v)      The church is chosen out of the mass of races to be God’s chosen race. A race not built upon skin color or family lineage but a race built upon God’s choice.

b)      The church is a royal priesthood

i)        The church is royal not because of our physical births but because of our spiritual births.

ii)      Because God chose us we are his children. Because the King dwells in our midst we are royalty.

iii)    And we are not royalty so we can be served by the help. We are royalty so we can serve. We are priests called to minister to those who are around us.

iv)    Every Christian is a priest who ministers to the church and the world under the priesthood of Christ.

c)      The church is a holy nation

i)        These phrases become more and more difficult for a Jew to swallow knowing they are being applied to Gentile believers.

ii)      How can a church that doesn’t have geographical boundaries be a nation?

iii)    Israel is God’s holy nation right? We’ll get to that in a moment. What needs to be seen now from the text is that this letter written to the church addresses the church as a holy nation.

iv)    God’s nation set apart for himself and his purposes.

d)     The church is a people for God’s own possession

i)        The church is not a hodge-podge of different peoples. The church is one people set apart and owned by God.

ii)      The church is not for an individual. The church is not for a group of individuals. The church is God’s possession.

iii)    Because God chose us, redeemed us, called us out, and gave us the new birth we are his possession.

e)      From verse 10 the church is God’s people

i)        Once you were not a people. Once you were not a Jew but an outsider. But now you are God’s people.

ii)      You were Scottish or German or Indian or Asian or American. You were not God’s people.

iii)    But as a part of the church you are a part of God’s people.

f)       And you have received mercy

i)        God’s favor, God’s forgiveness, God’s fatherly love are only for his people.

ii)      As Americans or French or Italian we did not receive mercy. But as God’s people we receive mercy.

g)      These are all for a reason. So that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

i)        The true church is not made up of those who walk in darkness and those who walk in light.

ii)      There are lost people, people of the darkness on our church roles. But being on a church role doesn’t make you a part of God’s people.

iii)    It is God’s calling that makes you a part of God’s people; the calling out of darkness and into the light.

iv)    Catch this; God didn’t save you to keep you out of hell. God saved you so that you would tell others how amazing God is.

v)      This is worship and evangelism.

vi)    Worship is telling God and telling others that God is excellent.

vii)  Evangelism is telling others that God is excellent and through Christ our sins are removed and we are reconciled to God.

viii)            Through faith in Christ’s atonement we can experience the excellencies of God.

ix)    So why does the church exist? To proclaim the excellencies of God. The people of God, the church, exist for worship and evangelism.

II) Theological significance of the church as the people of God

a)      I want you to see the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.

i)        We’re going to look at some Old Testament passages to see God bringing together his people.

b)      Exodus 19:5-6

i)        Here you see three important phrases used to describe the Hebrew people if they will obey God’s voice and keep his covenant.

ii)      Treasured possession, kingdom of priests, and holy nation

iii)    In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, these three phrases in Exodus 19:5-6 are almost identical to what is found in 1 Peter 2:9-10.

c)      Isaiah 43:16-21 (Deuteronomy 4:20; 7:6)

i)        Here you see three more important phrases used to describe this new thing God will do among his people.

ii)      Chosen people, people whom I formed for myself, and here’s the reason why, so they might declare my praise.

iii)    Where do you think Peter was getting these phrases he was applying to the church in 1 Peter 2:9-10?

iv)    Peter was being led by the Spirit to apply Old Testament promises to the nation of Israel to the church.

d)     Hosea 2:18-23 (1:10; Jeremiah 31:33)

i)        Where did Peter get the phrase once you were not a people but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy but now you have received mercy?

ii)      Peter got it straight out of Hosea and God’s new covenant promise to Israel

e)      Now for one New Testament text, Revelation 21:3 (ca Matthew 1:21

i)        What I am saying is that it has always been God’s plan to form one nation from all the nations of the earth.

ii)      This one nation, people, or race is to be God’s treasured possession. Not a nation of geographical boundaries. Not a people who govern themselves. Not a race of one skin color.

iii)    God’s plan has always been to call out a people for himself.

iv)    The plan began with Abraham, worked through the people of Israel, and this plan finds it’s fulfillment in Christ.

v)      Ephesians 1:4 tells us that we are chosen in Christ.

vi)    Does God have one plan for Israel and a different plan for the church? No, the plan is to form one people called out by God and redeemed by Jesus Christ.

vii)  Does the church replace Israel? No, I believe there are physical promises to Israel that will be realized by those who trust in Christ and are alive at the time of fulfillment.

viii)            The bigger point is that Christ is true Israel and all those that are in him will enjoy the spiritual and physical promises made to Israel.

ix)    2 Corinthians 1:20, all the promises find their yes in him (Romans 15:8).

x)      Are there physical promises to be enjoyed by God’s people? Yes. Will they be enjoyed by both believing Jews and believing Gentiles? Yes.

xi)    All those who are in Christ Jesus are the people of God. All those who are in Christ Jesus are a part of the church.

III) Now, the practical implications for being the people of God

If we are God’s people called out to proclaim his excellencies through worship and evangelism how should we do it?

a)      Since we are the people of God the church should be holy

i)        Look at 1 Peter 1:13-16 (ca. 1 Corinthians 1:2; 14:33 Romans 1:7)

ii)      God expects his people, the church, to be holy in all their conduct. In all your conduct means in all your conduct.

iii)    God expects us to be holy at work, at home, on vacation, at Wal-mart, and even while we drive.

iv)    The next question we have to ask is what means did God leave to the church to pursue this holiness?

v)      Did you know that the word “church” is found only twice in the gospels?

vi)    4 gospels and only 2 times does Jesus use the word church. Both of them are in the book of Matthew.

vii)  There’s Matthew 16:18, the promise we looked at last week that Christ will build his church.

viii)            And there is Matthew 18:15-17 (read it)

ix)    God has given church discipline to his body in order to protect and pursue holiness in the lives of each other.

x)      The holiness God demands of his people is meant to be obtained and preserved through the loving use of biblical discipline.

xi)    Because of love God disciplines his children. Because of love godly parents discipline their children. Because of love a godly church will discipline it’s members.

xii)  Compare this to 1 Corinthians 5:12&13

xiii)            Pursue reconciliation, pursue restoration, pursue repentance, love and pray deeply, but when a person refuses to pursue a holy life that person should not be counted as one of God’s people.

xiv)            That person should be removed from the church. Since God is holy we must pursue holiness there are no other options.

xv)  The church brings reproach on God and the gospel of Jesus Christ when that church refuses to live holy lives.

xvi)            Since we are the people of God we should be holy and

b)      The church should love- 1 John 3:10&11

i)        (ca. Matt 22:37-39; John 13:34-35; 1 John 2:9-10)

ii)      If we do not love each other than we are not Christians. A passionate, personal, forgiving, and joyful love for one another is what separates the people of God from the world.

iii)    The church is not a place of pure white perfection and the church is not a place of zero divisions or disagreements.

iv)    The church is a people who love each other enough to be gracious and understanding.

v)      The church is a people who love each other enough to listen and not jump to conclusions.

vi)    It is impossible to love God and hate his church. It is impossible to love God and be indifferent about his church.

vii)  To be a part of Mambrino Baptist Church is to commit to loving each other.

viii)            You cannot be a part of God’s people and not love the church.

c)      And finally, the church should be a family

i)        Galatians 4:4-5(John 1:12; Gal 3:26; 1 Thess 1:1)

1 Tim 5:1-2 says, “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, ² older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.”

ii)      When you become a member of this church you make a covenant commitment to the people of this church.

iii)    A covenant commitment that is very similar to the covenant commitment between a husband and wife.

iv)    A covenant commitment to a church family is different than the one between a husband and a wife because the covenant commitment between a husband and wife ends at death.

v)      We will not be married to our spouses in heaven (Matt 22:30).

vi)    But you will still be a part of the church in heaven. When you become part of the family of God you become a part of that family forever.

vii)  It is God’s calling on us to treat each other like family. We must seek holiness through discipleship and discipline. We must love each other with all grace and endurance. We must be committed to each other and we must pursue what is best for each other.

viii)            We must act like the people of God.

Serve One Another; 1 Peter 4:7-11

***I did not use this manuscript for preaching***

Serve One Another

Text: 1 Peter 4:7-11                                                                9/18/2011

Thesis: A church is a family that serves one another.

 

1 Peter 4:7-11 gives us a helpful pattern for living life. I want us to walk through the passage together and when we get to verse 10 we’ll camp out on what it means to serve one another. Last week we began a sermon series focusing on the “One Another” passages in the New Testament. These passages give us clear instructions concerning how to be the church with one another.

Unfortunately we live in a day that looks at the church like room service. The two main attractions of room service are privacy and selection. When you order room service you don’t have to interact with anyone. We’re tempted to think the church should offer us the same: I’ll leave you alone and you leave me alone. I want to keep my meal private and I want what I want. I want to choose what will make me happy and if I don’t find what will make me happy I’ll call the front desk and get them to find what will make me happy. The majority opinion of the church is that it is an institution that exists to give me what I want while expecting little to nothing of me; the church as room service.

But thankfully the Bible creates something different. Obviously from last week’s sermon and the command to love one another privacy is thrown out the window. The love someone the more you will desire to get to know him/her; when love increases in a relationship privacy decreases. This is true in marriage, family, friendships, and in the church. So the biblical church isn’t room service where you get served. A biblical church is more like a home-cooked meal where you serve the ones you love.

With the idea of a serving one another in our minds lets read 1 Peter 4:7-11.

 

I. Live with the end in sight (v7)

Anytime we hear that the end is near the desire is to go a little crazy. Tell a kid they have 2 more minutes to play in the Chic-Fila playground and you better be ready to do some damage control. That kid, not my kid mind you, just might knock other kids down in order to make one more run down the slide. When we hear that the end is near we are tempted to go a little bezerk. Instead 1 Peter 4:7 tells us

1. Be self-controlled and sober-minded

The word translated [self-controlled or] sane means ‘having a sound mind, thinking about and evaluating situations maturely and correctly’ (Grudem, 1 Peter TNTC, 173). Being sober-minded means having a clear head so you can accurately think about your daily situations. God does not want you to live in a state of crazy. God wants you to engage the needs around you according to insight not according to what’s on fire. If a firefighter is out of control because of all the excitement or if he’s drunk he can make things worse by accidently adding more fuel to the fire. If you and I do not live life with self-control chances are we’ll add more fuel to the fire.

The obvious question is “How do I become self-controlled and sober-minded.” Now the answer is simple but it’s not always easy. Romans 12:1: reject the plethora of ways the world wants to shape your thinking and read your Bible committing to change the way you think to match the truth. As your mind is transformed by the word, as you think more like Jesus, you will be better equipped to evaluate the situation correctly. Hebrews 5:14 talks about those Christians who dig deeply into the word and feed on the meaty truths found there. Those people have their “powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good and evil.” They are self-controlled and sober minded. Those people think about and evaluate the situations of life correctly. Those people pray really well.

1. Your way effects your pray

The way you think about a situation effects the way you will pray about that situation. We must be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of our prayers. “Christians should evaluate events correctly in order to be able to pray more intelligently, effectively, and appropriately” (Grudem, 173). As we read our bibles and pray we will find ourselves thinking more like Jesus, acting more like Jesus, and doing even greater things than Jesus. There is a direct connection between bible reading and prayer. God wants to shape your thinking concerning every aspect of your life so you can pray according to his will and bear much fruit.

Jesus said, ““If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31). And, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

If you feel trapped, out of control, or like you are in a fog concerning issues in your life then let someone know. Come pray with me during our invitation hymn. Talk to a mature Christian friend or send me an email. God puts people in his church who he has gifted to help you think through your situation. Use the gifts God has provided. Let someone know.

And don’t let your fears rule you. We are church committed to loving one another. We are commanded to do so.

II. Keep on loving one another (v8)

1 Peter 4:7 says plainly, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

1. Loving one another is a priority

‘Above all’ Peter says, “keep loving one another earnestly.” Love is vitally important in the church. Look up the word ‘love’ in the concordance in the back of your bible for a host of examples. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13 that you can preach great sermons, share the gospel clearly, understand life, think clearly about your circumstances, possess all faith, give away everything you have, even die as a martyr but if you don’t love you are and you gain nothing (1 Cor 13:1-3). Loving one another is a priority. Above all be sure that you love.

1. Loving one another is a marathon

Should we or can we stop loving one another? No, 1 Peter 4:8 tells us to “keep loving”. You are to “have love” as an abiding possession. As you go through life with your church there will regularly come up situations that demand continual love. You will be sin against and misunderstood. You will be forgotten and neglected. You will be hurt. What should you do? Abide in Jesus’ love and keep loving it is a marathon.

1. Loving one another is intense

Can we have an Eeyore attitude toward love? Should we be content with a little bit of love toward one another? What does 1 Peter 4:8 say? Love one another earnestly. Love one another deeply and fervently. We are to love with the intensity of a sprinter competing at full speed. There is no room for loafers when it comes to being a lover in the church. This is the word translated ‘fervently’ or ‘earnestly’ is used to describe Jesus’ earnest praying in the Garden of Gethsemane when his sweat became like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). We are to love one another as earnestly as Jesus prayed.

If this type of love does not describe your experience as a part of Mambrino Baptist Church let me challenge you to be the one who improves the church. You be the one who abides in Jesus’ love and from that depth go and love others earnestly. Don’t wait to be loved. Love one another fervently. And here is why.

1. Loving one another makes life better

1 Peter 4:8 gives us the reason for love do you see it? “Keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

Who is easier to forgive, someone you love or someone you hate? It’s easier to forgive the people we love. So we are to love one another so that reconciliation comes easier. Striving to love someone and be willing to overlook an offense go hand in hand. Here Peter is quoting from Proverbs 10:12, “Hatred stirs up strife but love covers all offenses.”

I believe this is an axiom; a self-evident truth. It can refer to God who loves us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. It can refer to the person sinned against who in glorious ways overlooks that offense by forgetting that offense (Prov 19:11). It can refer to the strong believer who though wronged doesn’t take the sin personally but instead loves and restores the sinner.

Let me ask you a simple question, Why does the church need 1 Peter 4:8? Why is this verse in the Bible?

God gave us this verse because he foresaw the pain that one member would cause another. God gave us this verse because he knew that potentially divisive sin who occur in his church. Be a part of any church long enough and you will find plenty of opportunities to keep loving people who aren’t easy to love. Be a part of this church long enough and you will be sinned against and your faith will be challenged; because of love will you cover that sin?

There are a host of issues that come up with this verse that must be worked out by each believer and each church. What we must keep in mind is the repeated call to holiness throughout 1 Peter (1:15-16; 2:5-9). So love covers sin in order to secure greater holiness. A self-controlled sober prayer filled life will guide you as you decide to overlook or rebuke (Luke 17:3) when sinned against. What this verse does is make our default setting to overlook an offense out of a deep love for one another.

In the church we are called to keep on loving one another because the one another’s sins will demand it.

As we continue to work through our passage the temptation is to think verses 8&9 are unrelated but verses 8&9 are connected. The more fervently you love someone the more time you will spend with that person. The more time you spend with that person the more opportunities to serve them will arise. And the more you love and serve the more likely you are to be sinned against thus providing more opportunities to lovingly cover those sins. So in your mind keep these verses together.

III. Serve one another through hospitality (v9)

1. Hospitality is other-love

Hospitality is literally made up of two words: love and stranger/foreigner/guest. But unlike Hebrews 13:2 which commands us to show hospitality to strangers we are instructed in 1 Peter 4:9 to show hospitality to one another. There is to be a tangible meaningful inclusive concern for one another in the church. It is not enough just to care for one another. We are to take care of one another. And I think we are to give special attention to showing hospitality to those whose sins we are overlooking. You don’t cover sins by avoiding people and thus avoiding awkward situations and feelings. You cover sins by actively loving and serving them.

The most basic form of hospitality is opening up your home. In the first century this meant offering a bed to traveling Christians. Inns were apparently little more than places to find easy access to sin. So if you were traveling you were dependent upon the hospitality of your fellow Christian; often Christians you had never met. Things are a little different today and safe hotels are easily found. What hasn’t changed about society is the desire to be known and loved. Hospitality is a means of providing a safe place but it’s also the means of building relationships.

It is much more effective to make a disciple over a meal, a cup of coffee, or a common task than it is in a classroom. Why do you think doctors and teachers are required to do an internship before being cleared to work? Haven’t they learned it all in the classroom? No, there is much to be learned in the actual doing. It is much more effective to teach someone as you go through life together than when you live separately and come together only briefly for teaching.  When you and I are hospitable it will provide the blessing of loving one another and teaching one another in the normal course of life. I think we need to look no further than Jesus and the Apostle Paul for evidence. Both men taught large groups but the deepest most lasting investment was made one on one or in small groups no larger than four.

Just look at Jesus in John 21 cooking a meal for the disciples and talking one on one with Peter and John. Hospitality, actively loving and serving others, provides opportunities for discipleship. Hospitality also provides opportunities to complain.

Verse nine says, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

1. Serve others but don’t use wine

Start opening your home in order to love, serve, and disciple and you will find ample reason to grumble. People will make demands and view your hospitality like it’s something they’re entitled to. People will be ungrateful and never invite you to their home. People will tear up your stuff. People will show up early and stay late. People whom you serve and sacrifice for will sin against you and God will have the audacity to tell you to love them and cover that sin.

Hospitality is not a catered dinner party. Hospitality is the opening up of your home for the purpose of taking care of and building relationships with sinners like yourself. So how do we do it? You must serve other dependent upon God.

IV. Serve one another with your gift (vs10-11)

Verses 10 and 11 paint a picture of serving that is born out of God’s equipping grace. We are to do what we do for one another so that God’s supply is glorified. Let’s look more closely.

1. You have received a gift

Verse 10 says, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” Every Christian has been gifted by God. Paul said the same thing. Glenn read it during our Scripture reading this morning. We all have a gift from the common good. Since you have a gift use it to serve. The person who believes he/she has nothing to offer is the person who believes God has nothing to give. God has gifted you so that you will use that gift to serve who? What does verse 10 say? “Use it to serve one another.” God has gifted you in order to take care of his church.

What we must be clear on is that fact that the gift and its use both depend upon grace. That you have the gift is because of God and not because of you. The fruitfulness of that gift is because of God and not because of you. If your gift involves words then remember those words are God’s words. If your gift involves deeds then remember that those deeds were done because God supplied the strength. It’s all of grace.

So what is a spiritual gift? A spiritual gift is any talent or ability which is empowered by the Holy Spirit and able to be used in the ministry of the church (Grudem, 175).

The next question is how do I discover my gift?

1. Find your gift by serving one another

Start inviting people into your home and see what comes of it. Do people easily open up to you and as you listen does your mind move quickly to the word of God? Do you perceives the needs in people’s lives? Do you foresee ways of helping? You are not going to find your gift by taking a test no more than you are going to find your career by answering a few questions in a counselor’s office. Instead of trying to find your gift let me give you two suggestions. One, find someone who needs to be served and see what God does. Or two, find someone who is mature and spend time with them doing what they do. In a Christian relationship of loving and serving that mature Christian will help discern your gift. Stop waiting to be asked.

Let’s drill down even more

1. There are two categories of gifts: speaking and serving

Verse 11 talks about people speaking and people serving. Whoever speaks has been called upon to serve others by speaking the oracles of God. This isn’t like God gives you new revelation. This is God giving wisdom to apply biblical revelation. I love and need common sense. I appreciate and enjoy people’s stories but as I read the bible I see a God who is not very interested in working according to man’s common sense and man’s past victories. God speaks and he intends us to listen. God also puts people in our lives who he intends to use to help us think with a more sober mind about our situation.

When you open your home to serve and when you are called upon to address some situation or sin speak God’s truth. One category of gifting involves speaking. Ephesians 4:11 lists apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers just to name a few. The speaking gift also includes encouraging, rebuking, and exhorting. We need them all in the church.

The other category of gifts are those that involves serving. Think along the lines of saying something (the speaking gifts) and doing something (the serving gifts). Both are to be done by God’s grace and for the good of others. 1 Corinthians 12:28 lists healing, helping, and administrating. Romans 12:5-8 mention service, making contributions generously, giving aid, and doing acts of mercy.

The key to a service gift is relying on God’s strength. The speaking gifts rely on God’s word. When you start exercising the gift God has given you it will require a God-power supply. God’s not interested in exalting us. God’s not impressed by us. God gifts and empowers us to display his glory.

1. When we serve by grace God gets the glory

When we speak God’s words and serve by his strength then this is what happens, middle of verse 11, we do it so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. I’m about to let you in on a little secret that many pastors won’t tell you. God is going to put you in situations that you can’t handle. He’s going to gift you and propel you into situations that cause you to say, “I can’t do this.” That’s the point. He wants to show you that he can do it. He wants you to see how amazingly wise and strong and sufficient he is. He wants us to see how amazingly foolish and week and insufficient we are.

Does all the glory and fame and esteem and praise belong to you for all your love and service and hospitality? No all glory belongs to God. Do all dominion and rule and power belong to you because you are so special? No all dominion belongs to God. All power and strength and rule are the property of our great God.

V. How to begin serving one another

1. Put off the desire to be served

The opposite of serving others is demanding that others serve you. Its leaving a church because you’re needs aren’t being met. In the context of this passage God is not interested in meeting your needs God is interested in gifting you so that you will meet other’s needs. Beware of the desire and then demand that you get what you want.

1. Abide in Christ

Verse 11 says that we are to speak and serve in ways that God gets the glory through Jesus Christ. Abide in Christ, prayerfully and faithfully listening to him through his Word and he will lead you to do God glorifying Christ-centered acts of service. Look at Christ. Listen to Christ. Follow Christ. These commitments will lead you to serve others.

1. Serve alongside one another

Last week I said that we don’t love one another because we don’t know one another. So how do we get to know each other so that we begin to love and serve one another? The best way is to do something together. I for one enjoy shooting guns with others but as fun as this is it’s not as beneficial as serving others with someone. A group of people serving themselves misses the point. A group of people serving others consistently and with Christ at the center will become a group that has opportunities to get to know each other.

1. As you serve alongside one another you will find opportunities to serve one another

You’ll see things you can do to help. You’ll find struggles that you can encourage with the word of God. You’ll be able to readily open your home and serve through hospitality. Look for something to do and as you do it look for ways to serve. Get your eyes off of yourself and your situation.

1. Serve so that God gets the glory

Don’t serve looking for a selfish return. How crazy would it be if we as a church began looking for ways to serve that demanded God’s wisdom and strength? What if we stopped looking for ways to serve that we were comfortable with or felt capable for? Look at the text. Do you think God wants to use your gift in uncomfortable sacrificial demanding ways? Obviously God wants to do great things in you. God wants to do amazing thing through you. But as Johnny Huffman said, “God can do great things through you but you’ve got to get off the couch.” Let’s pray and ask God to give us clear minds so we can follow his lead. And where is he leading? He’s leading us to love and serve and be hospitable in sacrificial God-glorifying Christ-centered ways. God has great things for you.