“The Holy Life” -- 1 Peter 4:7-11

The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote a treatise on the meaning of life. In this Old Testament book, the writer explores the pluses and minuses of wealth, the arts, love and pleasure, among other things. His conclusion in every instance was that everything he sought after proved to be in vain.

In the conclusion of his treatise, the author wrote these words: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or bad” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

The words of the writer—who many believe to be Solomon, a man who was wise in the ways of God—speak truth to us today. As we near the conclusion of our series of messages of how to live a holy life, we can say with him that the key to living the holy life is found in giving ourselves completely to God.

Background

Peter’s first letter has played a key part in helping us look at what it means to live a holy life. We used as a springboard for this study 1 Peter 1:13-16, which concludes with the words taken from Leviticus, “Be holy, because I am holy.” We used this passage to discover the needs of preparing our minds, practicing self-control and setting our hope in God’s grace through Christ Jesus. We looked at the need to be transformed by His Spirit and how to deal with temptation.

This is our fourth passage from 1 Peter that we will look at during this series of messages. Today’s passage begins with the words, “The end of all things is near.” I’ve shared with you my belief that Jesus will be coming soon, if not in our lifetimes, then within the lifetimes of our children or grandchildren. My belief is that He will come again in less than 50 years. I may be wrong in my interpretation of the signs, but I have no doubt in my mind that Jesus will come again. And one of the most important things we can do as we await His coming is to live in a way that is pleasing to Him. We must live holy lives.

In today’s passage, we will consider a bit more about prayer and we will also look at our service to Christ as we minister to others. In the passage, we focus on this truth:

Central Truth: The holy life is one totally given to God.

We give ourselves to God through:

1. Prayer (7)

“The end of all things is near. Therefore, be clear minded and self-controlled, so that you can pray.”

One of the most important things we can do in any relationship is to communication. That’s true on international levels, national levels and, particularly, personal levels. There have too many times when I started to do something only to discover that I never did tell Kim about what she and I were going to do. I thought I’d told her, even was certain of it, only to find out that the conversation I had with her took place in my mind. The same is true the other way. It can make for a lot of fun.

This is the second time Peter has told the readers and us to be clear minded and self-controlled. These were the first things he wrote about when he told us we are to live holy lives. To be clear minded is to be sure of our mission and our purpose, to not be distracted by circumstances. Peter could walk on water as long as he was clear minded on the task. It was when he remembered and re-noticed the storm that he had to be rescued by Jesus from drowning.

The self-control is the ability to learn to willingly give ourselves to the leadership and Lordship of Christ. We practice self-control so that we can listen for and yield to the voice of the One who calls us to service and ministry.

The reason Peter tells us to be clear minded and self-controlled is to be able to pray. It is the discipline of prayer that keeps us in clearest communication with the Father. As we pray, we learn not only to ask Him for things (though we learned from Luke 11 to be persistent in asking, seeking and knocking), but to learn from Him. God can often bring a verse or passage to mind to speak to us, or He can insert an idea into our thoughts as we prayerfully seek His will.

When we pray, we pray in Jesus’ name. As we’ve said before, “In Jesus’ name” is not the equivalent of “abracadabra,” but is an expression of our submitting ourselves to His will and His way. To pray in Jesus’ name is to ask God to enable us to do what Christ calls us to do. This is true of the broad things—like sharing the gospel, ministering to others, worshiping Him—but also the more specific things that each of us is called to do for Him.

We pray with a right attitude, not to receive from God things that we can spend on our own pleasure (cf. James 4:1-3), but for things that will equip us to fulfill His calling for us. We pray with a confidence that comes from the promise that both free and able to enter into God’s presence through the ministry of Jesus Christ (cf. Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 10:19-22) and we pray with the assurance that God not only hears our prayers but that He answers them in accordance to His will.

To live a holy life, we must become or remain people of prayer. We must be people who have a clear mind and self-control. This enhances our prayers and our holy living.

2. Loving service (8-9)

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.”

As Paul reaches the conclusion of his great chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13, he wrote, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (v. 13). The apostle knew that some day, we would see Jesus. On that day, there would be no further need for faith and hope. Love would always remain, because God is love. God expressed His love in giving us His Only Son to die for us. Jesus showed His love for the Father and for us by willingly taking the cup and dying on the cross.

Love is the central theme of the entire Bible. Peter understood this truth, and so he tells us to love each other deeply. We love each other deeply in the way we relate to one another. The love God calls us to have is not primarily of emotion, but of action and ministry. It is the unselfish giving of ourselves unconditionally. And Peter reminds us that love covers over a multitude of sins. Jesus demonstrated that in going to the cross and laying down His life for us. When Jesus hung on that cross, He didn’t see the sins you and I committed; instead, He saw us as sheep gone astray, in need of a shepherd. Jesus became that Good Shepherd in order to lead us and protect us.

That’s what love does, and that’s what Peter urges here. Love overlooks the little annoyances people do, and extends grace, compassion and forgiveness instead.

Love also offers hospitality to others, without grumbling. It was common practice that a traveler in Peter’s day would enter a village or town and go to a friend’s house for shelter and food. There were few if any hotels or bed and breakfasts, so travelers stayed with those they knew. We remember this from Jesus’ parable in Luke 11.

Imagine being in bed late at night after a long day. You are just drifting off to sleep, when you’re jolted out of bed by a hard knocking on your door. Since you live in a small house with one large room, you call out, “Who is it?” The answer from the other side of the locked door is a familiar voice. While it may be a friend you look forward to seeing, you probably wish he’d have waited for the morning. Instead, you have to get up and not only let him in, but provide water for washing, food for eating and conversation, as well as a place to sleep in the already cramped quarters. Is it any wonder that Peter adds the words, “without grumbling?”

The one who lives a holy life—whose life is dedicated to love of God—will welcome the inopportune time.

The holy life is one of prayer and one of deep love for God’s creation and those who live in it.

3. Using our gifts for God’s glory (10-11)

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

There are so many Christians who live their lives believing they have nothing to offer to the world or to God. They are grateful for God’s mercy and grace, but believe themselves to be without talent or ability to do anything for God. None of this is true, but Satan has been very effective at telling us we are unworthy or unable to minister to those around us. These verses are just some of the many found in the New Testament that let us know God enables each one of us with a spiritual gift given to us so that we can minister to the body of Christ and to others. A partial list of the gifts can be found in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12, as well as Ephesians 4:11-13.

“Each one should use whatever gifts he has received” tells us much of what we need to know about how God equips us to minister. “Each one” is an inclusive term which means no one is left out when the gifts are given. “Whatever gifts” lets us know that there are a diversity of gifts God gives to His children. Paul uses the analogy of a human body to describe the versatility of gifts and the reason for it. “Gifts” also tells us that what we receive from the Lord is not something we earn, but what we are given by the Holy Spirit that indwells us. “He has received” means that the gift(s) is already dispensed to us. God gifts us with the spiritual gifts the moment He gives us salvation through His Son Jesus Christ. At the moment of salvation, we are given the Holy Spirit to live within us. When the Spirit comes, He imparts to each of us at least one spiritual gift that allows us to minister to others in the name of Christ.

Not everyone has been given a gift that it prominent, but we all have been gifts that are necessary for the effective ministry of the Church. The purpose of these gifts is found in the second part of v. 10: to faithfully administer God’s grace in its various forms. Grace is imparted to us by God through others around us, as well as through the ministry of Christ.

The curious thing, and the crucial thing, is that these gifts are given to us not for us to use on our own as we see fit. Rather, they are given to us in order that the Holy Spirit can work through us. That’s the intent on v. 11. Peter refers to two specific gifts—prophecy/teaching and service—and shows how God uses them through us.

The gifts that include speaking are to speak “the very words of God.” There are not a lot of things I take seriously, but I do take preaching seriously. It is my responsibility to bring to you the most accurate understanding of God’s Word to you as I can, and for that I have to rely on the leadership of the Holy Spirit. The last thing you need to hear is my opinion on things. You need to hear God’s message.

The same is true of service. We are to serve “with the strength God provides.” Reading through the Gospel accounts, we see time and again that Jesus’ days were long and spent in service to others. There are times we wonder how He was able to do it. The answer comes in this verse. Jesus did His ministry with the strength God provided Him. We minister with the strength God gives us.

The reason we speak as one speaking the very words of God and serve with the strength God provides for one reason: “so that in all things God may be praised.” Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount that we are to let our light so shine in order for others to see our good works and so praise the Father in heaven (cf. Matthew 5:16). We don’t minister in the name of Christ in order for us to think highly of us. Our ministry must be directed to the One who enables us through His gifts, His words and His power.

The holy life is one of prayer and service in order that God may be glorified in all we say and do.

Conclusion

The writer of Ecclesiastes spent a great deal of time and effort to reach his conclusions at the end of the treatise. Many Christians today spend an enormous amount of time and energy going through the motions of trying their best to live a life pleasing to God.

God tells us the best way to walk with Him. We are called to be holy as He is holy. The way we live holy lives is to follow Peter’s instructions. Pray with a clear mind and self-control. Live a life of Christ-led love and forgiveness, and let God minister through us to those we meet each day.

“Be holy, because I am holy.”