Bible Study - Identify (2) - Life in the Chruch - 1 Peter 4:7-11 - April 30, 2017

Bible Study – Identity (2) – Life in the Church – April 30, 2017

This is lesson two in our series entitled “Identity: My Life of Faith.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Peter 4:7-11.

I love and serve CHRIST when I love and serve HIS body, the church.

The Apostle Peter wrote this letter to a group of churches in Asia Minor or modern Turkey today. He wrote the letter in early 64 AD because Peter was martyred by the Roman Emperor Nero about 64 A.D.

These early Christians were looking for the immediate and imminent return of JESUS but they were living in a time of hostility toward the Christian community. This resulted in the Christian community to focus on their individuality because CHRIST’S return was imminent, therefore they did not attempt to deal with the social and political issues evident at that time.

Christians must stand strong in times of crisis. When Christians turn a blind 

eye to the critical issues that are evident in their community, it opens the opportunity for Satan to fill the void and wreak havoc.

Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:9:

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Christians are special. Just as GOD chose Israel to be HIS chosen nation, the promised Messiah, JESUS, had fulfilled GOD’S plan and purpose, which established GOD’S Spiritual kingdom upon earth. All who place their faith in 

JESUS create a new race, Holy nation, royal priesthood. This new Holy nation is made up of those who have been born into GOD’S family through the miracle of rebirth through faith in JESUS.

Christians are the salt and the light of the world and they are to share it with the world.

The Apostle Paul helps us to understand this new community as he wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31: (GOD equips those born into HIS family to serve in the world until JESUS returns. Are we, as Christians, missing the calling of JESUS to serve? Have we, as Christians, considered obediently serving GOD, fully equipped using HIS gifts of the Spirit to minister? Or do we consider them as emotional manifestations not meant for us at this time? Christians are the light and we are to share that light with the world. But at the same time keeping a very careful eye that we do not allow the power of GOD to become our power and get puffed up with pride and self-esteem.

The Christian community is to obediently serve as equipped in unity, harmony and community. Christians are a Holy Nation as a community of faith based upon the birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension of JESUS. Faith in JESUS, as GOD’S only Son, Who gave HIS life to pay the penalty for sin for all who will place their faith in HIM is the foundation. The Christian church was founded upon this but it is not the brick and mortar building that is the true church, it is the Spiritual body of believers. The church building is filled with all sorts of people, as it should be. The true body of believers within the brick and mortar church functions as a unified body with CHRIST as the head. CHRIST functioning as the head is vital. Each member of the Spiritual body uses his or her Spiritual gift or gifts to minister, as led by the Holy Spirit.) 

Now, let’s read what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31:

Diversity of Spiritual Gifts

1 About matters of the spirit: brothers, I do not want you to be unaware.

2 You know how, when you were pagans, you were led to dumb idols-being led astray.

3 Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus is cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are different activities, but the same God is active in everyone and everything.

7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial:

8 to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit,

9 to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

10 to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.

11 But one and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each one as He wills.

Notice verse 11, “as GOD wills.” Christians can desire a certain Spiritual gift but GOD distributes. What is our role? It is to be willing to accept the gift GOD chooses for each of us to have.

Unity Yet Diversity in the Body

12 For as the body is one and has many parts, and all the parts of that body, though many, are one body-so also is Christ.

13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body-whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free-and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

14 So the body is not one part but many.

15 If the foot should say, "Because I'm not a hand, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

16 And if the ear should say, "Because I'm not an eye, I don't belong to the body," in spite of this it still belongs to the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were an ear, where would be the sense of smell?

18 But now God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body just as He wanted.

19 And if they were all the same part, where would the body be?

20 Now there are many parts, yet one body.

21 So the eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" nor again the head to the feet, "I don't need you!"

22 On the contrary, all the more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.

23 And those parts of the body that we think to be less honorable, we clothe these with greater honor, and our unpresentable parts have a better presentation.

24 But our presentable parts have no need [of clothing]. Instead, God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the less honorable,

25 so that there would be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other.

26 So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.

28 And God has placed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, next, miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, managing, various kinds of languages.

29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in languages? Do all interpret?

31 But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.

The gifts of the Spirit must be administered with the Spiritual body with love, in unity and harmony as led by the Holy Spirit. When the Spiritual body is going astray, does that mean a member of that body remains silent? Discernment is a gift of the Spirit. If you see a child running toward a poisonous snake, would you remain silent? No, you would try to warn and protect the child. Back to our focus scripture.

Let’s read 1 Peter 4:7:

End-Time Ethics

7 Now the end of all things is near; therefore, be clear-headed and disciplined for prayer.

Christians of that time period were looking for the return of JESUS at any moment. They were to be watchful and to stay focused.

Christians today are to pray for the return of JESUS and keep a watchful eye for HIS return but at the same time obediently minister to the lost and the Spiritual body. Christians are the light and that light must be shared and not hidden. Earth is not the final destination of any person. The final destination of every person is eternity either with GOD, through faith in JESUS or separated from GOD by rejecting JESUS.

Christians know the truth and are to share it.

Let’s read 1 Peter 4:8-9:

8 Above all, keep your love for one another at full strength, since love covers a multitude of sins.

True love comes from those who have been born-again through faith in JESUS. Christians can keep their love for one another at full strength only as they are empowered by the Holy Spirit and keep their eyes upon JESUS.

What is meant by “since love covers a multitude of sins?” When Christians allow the love of JESUS and what HE has done for them fill their hearts it allows them to love others in spite of their nature. The love of JESUS leaves no room for hate, greed, holding grudges and the list goes on. Do not confuse condoning. Christians are to love the sinner but to hate the sin.

Agape love is love that demands nothing in return. Being filled with the love of GOD allows the Christian to trust GOD for the outcome and take the action as led by the Holy Spirit toward that person. Here we have to be careful. We are not to condone what the other person is doing but to maintain the resolve to seek the wisdom and power from GOD to help that person.

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.

Hospitality is a gift of the Spirit. Always being the host at times can become weary. When Christians complain, it detracts from their ministry. Yes, Christians become weary and need to take a break. Take that break before your ministry becomes a burden.

In the true Spiritual body, fellow Christians will discern that others within the body need a break and step in to give relief. So when you are prompted, step up to the plate and help or pray and ask GOD to reveal if what is being done needs to change. If there needs to be a change, what would work better? Pray about it. Just because something has been done a certain way does not mean it always has to be done.

Let’s read 1 Peter 4:10-11:

10 Based on the gift they have received, everyone should use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.

Every Christian has at least one gift of the Spirit. He or she is to use that gift as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit, especially within the Spiritual body.

11 If anyone speaks, [his speech should be] like the oracles of God; if anyone serves, [his service should be] from the strength God provides, so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

Christians are to function in the Spiritual body using the Spiritual gift or gifts that GOD has given them.

We live in a time when Spiritual gifts are often looked upon as suspect. GOD gifts HIS children for HIS gifts to be used to minister. Spiritual gifts are not to draw attention to the person manifesting the Spiritual gift but to the giver of the Spiritual gifts. May JESUS always be manifested and Glorified as we use our Spiritual gifts to minister to the Spiritual body and those to whom we are led by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul recorded additional gifts of the Spirit in Romans 12:4-8: (Keep in mind these are not all the Spiritual gifts.)

4 Now as we have many parts in one body, and all the parts do not have the same function,

5 in the same way we who are many are one body in Christ and individually members of one another.

6 According to the grace given to us, we have different gifts: If prophecy, use it according to the standard of faith;

GOD will not give you a message that conflicts with HIS Word, which is the standard.  

7 if service, in service; if teaching, in teaching;

8 if exhorting, in exhortation; giving, with generosity; leading, with diligence; showing mercy, with cheerfulness.

The true Spiritual body is to function in unity and harmony in ministering to others as led by the Holy Spirit. Our obedient service magnifies our LORD. 

Our overarching banner for our lesson is “I love and serve CHRIST when I love and serve HIS body, the church (the true Spiritual body of believers of which, JESUS is the chief cornerstone of a building not made with hands. This is the Spiritual body upon earth.”)

1 Peter 2:1-10:

The Living Stone and a Holy People

1 So rid yourselves of all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.

2 Like newborn infants, desire the unadulterated spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it in [your] salvation,

GOD’S Word is nutritious and Christians must feed upon it to remain Spiritually healthy, grow and mature. The Holy Spirit provides the living water which carries the nutrients to the needed areas of our lives. Do not neglect HIS Word or putting it into action. 

3 since you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 Coming to Him, a living stone-rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God-

5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 For it stands in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and valuable cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!

7 So the honor is for you who believe; but for the unbelieving, The stone that the builders rejected- this One has become the cornerstone, and

8 A stone that causes men to stumble, and a rock that trips them up. They stumble by disobeying the message; they were destined for this.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Christians belong to GOD. Christians are precious to GOD. GOD loves you and so does JESUS. Never forget it, you who make up the Holy Nation not built by hands! You members of the royal priesthood! Blessings!!!