Another Day 15 Service With Love: Digging Deeper
March 24, 2023
Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
1 Peter 4:7-11
The Original Intent
1) Why is prayer included in this list of actions? (verse 7)
The phrase, “The end of all things is near”, and ones similar to it like, “The Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:8), or “The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5) are found frequently in both Old and New Testaments. They express urgency and the necessity of working for the Lord while it is still called “today”. (John 9:4)
When an author uses one of these phrases, it accompanies a specific call to action for believers, those who have already been granted the assurance of their certain rescue when Christ returns to judge the world.
Make no mistake, all these Christians have sinned grievously against the Holy God, but the difference between them and everyone else, is they have acknowledged their sin, confessed it to God Himself, and accepted His complete forgiveness of their sin. (1 John 1:9) In place of sin and eternal distance from God, the Lord gives His own Holy Spirit to dwell eternally inside the soul of all who call on Him with genuine faith, effectively drawing them into close, intimate relationship with Himself. (Romans 10:9)
Each call to action in connection with these phrases is meant to align the believer more closely with the Lord in preparation for the increasingly intense battle against evil as we move ever closer to the Day of Eternal Judgment.
James calls believers to “strengthen your hearts” (James 5:8) while Paul says, “wake up from sleep” and “put on the armor of light”. (Romans 13:11-12) Considering the workings of the enemy on all sides, the accompanying allure of sin (1 Peter 4:2-3), and the quickening Day of the Lord,
Peter calls believers to pray. Other actions follow, but Peter places prayer at the top of the list, honing in on that special, intimate relationship between Warrior God and adopted, forgiven child.
The Everyday Application
1) Why is prayer included in this list of actions? (verse 7)
We often relegate prayer to a last resort. Our words reflect what our hearts truly believe when we say things like, “All we can do is pray”, “There’s nothing we can do except pray”, or “We’ve tried everything else, we might as well pray.”
To the Lord, prayer comes first because the power source of our battle isn’t found in the things we can do, the brilliance with which we devise a plan, or our ability to take control, but in our complete reliance on the God of All Victory. He holds all power.
Even the final “battle” between God and Satan at the end of time won’t be a battle. The Lord will speak to silence Satan once and for all, and it will be over. The God who spoke creation into existence, holds galaxies by His breath, and knits our DNA into every cell, is more than able to thwart every attack, calm every storm, heal every disease, and bind up every broken heart, but it all begins and ends in relationship with Him.
We look around and see un-answered prayer and begin to doubt whether “prayer” works, but we forget it isn’t the “prayer”, but the ONE we talk with in prayer who holds our hearts.
Amazingly, when we grow familiar with bringing everything to God through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, His desires become ours. (Philippians 4:4-7) Fear dissipates, peace embraces, and shockingly, it no longer matters as much that we “get our way” and “make prayer work” because we have the better, we have God Himself.
Don’t believe me? Try it! Pursue God for who He is, not for what He can do for you. Talk with Him, about everything. You’ll soon discover why Peter places prayer at the very top of his “call to action” list for believers!
The Original Intent
2) What is the motivation for the believer’s call to action in these verses? (verse 8)
We’re studying these few verses from Peter’s letter to the dispersed, persecuted believers of the early church, but context is everything, no matter what portion of Scripture you’re reading.
Reading context and slowing down for right understanding safeguards us from the danger of mis-applying God’s Words to our lives and completely misunderstanding the kind of God He is. Context matters! Study God’s Word, ladies, but do it well!
Backing up in this chapter, we find we are in the middle of Peter’s discussion. Verses 1-6 describe the evil in the world, which accurately reflects the evil naturally growing in our hearts. Human beings are vile creatures, lusting after ourselves and our own desires. Full of idolatry (that is, worshipping anything other than God alone), we actively rebel against the Holy God, choosing our own ways and desiring our own control, wishing to be our own “gods”.
All true believers will recoil at evil because the Spirit of the Holy God lives within them, calling them to be holy as God is holy. (1 Peter 1:16) His Spirit changes a believer’s appetite! (verse 4) It’s a good thing for our appetite and attitude toward sin to shift, causing us to desire righteousness as we honor the Father who adopted us and calls us His own.
The danger, however, because we still feel the pull of our old nature to sin, is to judge, condemn, and revile the people who are lost in the disease of sin just as we once were. The powerful antidote here is genuine love like Christ’s, not just for their physical needs, but for their souls! (verse 8)
The Everyday Application
2) What is the motivation for the believer’s call to action in these verses? (verse 8)
Peter reminds the believers in verse 5, “They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the living and the dead.” This is meant to remind the scattered believers who are in danger because of un-believers, that they too will stand at the coming Judgment Seat. Believers are covered in the righteousness of Christ, but those who continue to reject Christ, will earn their just reward without any rescue and will be sentenced to continue the path they have chosen all their lives on earth, rebellion and separation from God.
The punishment is now far worse for eternity, for no mercies and graces from the Lord will be experienced in Hell as they were on earth. No kindness, no acts of love, only the eternal awful wrath of God against sin.
This reminder should motivate every single believer to become more passionately serious about genuinely loving their neighbor across the street, at the grocery store, and around the world. This reminder of all humanity’s default destination for eternity, should quickly break down the arrogant barriers we’ve erected to think we are somehow better than any other sinner on the planet.
All people desperately need the Love of Jesus “that covers a multitude of sins”. We do, they do.
Let’s get busy and love well by showing them His love in practical ways and by verbally sharing who Jesus is and how He loved them enough to take their place and die their death, so they could live forever inside the life of forgiveness and righteousness!
The Original Intent
3) What is the target goal for this collection of actions? (verse 11)
“Be hospitable without complaint” (verse 9) reminds us to open our hearts and hands and homes with all generosity. The lack of complaining evidences how this generosity flows from a heart that knows exactly how much she has been forgiven of and how much Christ’s love has covered her sins.
When complaints rise up in hard relationships, stress, or hurt, remember Peter’s call to action that’s backed by the love of a Savior who gave Himself, humbly, for us to not only be forgiven for eternity, but be wrapped in peace and comfort by His constant presence on earth.
It’s hard to complain when we remember how loved we are, and it’s hard to love well when stinginess fills our hearts. The Lord has given every single believer gifts through the Holy Spirit for that Christian to actively live out in everyday life. Perhaps it’s singing, leading others to worship, easily understanding difficult biblical truths, being a good friend, making people feel welcome, cooking delicious meals, folding laundry, running a well-maintained home, or making flowers flourish.
Whatever your specific set of gifts, we are all called to live hospitably (read: openly generous) without complaint. Why? Peter tells us this glorifies God, meaning it reflects His character to the world around us.
When we take seriously each of these action steps, intentionally incorporating them into our everyday lives through the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit, we impact the world by showing them what kind of God would love them enough to save them from eternal separation from His goodness.
The Everyday Application
3) What is the target goal for this collection of actions? (verse 11)
Remember these verses we are studying are in the middle of Peter’s discourse? Let’s not forget the closing section. Though it sounds beautiful and like our authentic love would be well-received, welcomed, and embraced by the people we are trying to love and serve with the Spirit’s power, Peter tells us otherwise. He tells us to prepare to be reviled for loving people well in the Name of Christ. (1 Peter 4:12, 14)
People love their evil ways, otherwise they wouldn’t be stuck doing them instead of enjoying the full life offered by Christ. Evil revolts against holiness, including holy love. While some will soften when we love them like Jesus, and we pray they will embrace Christ as their own personal Savior, expect pushback along the way.
Peter says, “don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you […].” (verse 12) Suffering for doing good doesn’t sound pleasant, but Peter reminds us it’s infinitely better than suffering for doing evil, which is why Christ came and sacrificed Himself, so He could take our suffering for evil upon Himself. (verses 15-16)
Remember that Peter is writing this letter to persecuted Christ-followers, and he is urging them to keep following because, though it is hard, the goal of bringing glory to the Lord Jesus, who holds all rule and reign over all things and will one day bring us Home to dwell with Him forever is worth it.
Together, let’s set our hearts to fervent prayer, upon loving well as Christ loves us, and on living for the Lord’s glory and not our own. When we suffer for following Jesus, let’s remind each other as Peter does to “trust [ourselves] to a faithful Creator while doing what is good.” (1 Peter 4:19)
Can We Pray With You?
Prayer is central to our ministry as believers in Jesus as we carry eachother’s burdens and intercede for one another. Our team is honored to share the work of praying alongside you!
This Week's Lock Screen
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