Once the children of Israel were away from Egypt and had some experience watching God provide for them, heal them and rally them, God took them to a mountain where He would teach them how He wanted them to live.
Israel’s Sanctification
Here God gave them the Law. Starting with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20) God began teaching them how to live in relation to Him, to each other and to the world around them.
The book of Leviticus carries on this theme containing God’s instructions for tabernacle worship (the way they would worship in the tent designated for His service). Israel is given a lot of specific instructions about sacrifices and cleanliness in this book.
In Leviticus 20 God warns the Children of Israel about associating with the worship of Molech, and evil spirits. Then He tells them:
7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God. 8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the Lord which sanctify you. Leviticus 20:7–8
“sanctify” (verb) – sacred.
“to set apart, consecrate, dedicate, regard as holy; to set apart as dedicated to God; by extension: pure, innocent, free from impurity”
Mounce
To Israel this meant that as they followed God He would show that they are special, He would let it be seen that they were holy.
New Testament Sanctificaiton
This concept is expanded on for New Testament believers in: 1 Peter 1:15-16.
“15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
“holy” (adjective) – “sacred (phys. pure, mor. blameless or religious, cer. consecrated)”
Strong
This greek word is sometimes translated “saints”. But here it isn’t used positionally as much as it is in a sense of intentional dedication to God. Notice the context:
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:13–16
These verses point out five things that are involved in this holiness. While they are important in all areas of our sanctification, we’re going to focus on how this passages relates to our prayer.
1. Focus
“gird up the loins of your mind”
Focusing in prayer is often a point of spiritual warfare. Distractions surround us and obstacles arise. Our minds need to be prepared for action in our prayer like a warrior would bind his clothes up to not hinder his movements in battle.
2. Self-control
“be sober”
“to be calm, steady, controlled; to weigh matters.”
Wiersbe, W. W.
We can’t pray as we should when our mind, emotions, or will are out of balance. We need to be sober.
3. Hope
“and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”
Without our future sure, and without a sureness of God’s ability and willingness to act on our behalf for good, what’s the point of praying. But we can be sure of God’s word. We pray knowing that our king will return for us.
4. Obedience
“As obedient children”
Prayer is ultimately seeking God’s will and then acting on it in faith. In this we pray about the mundane and the extraordinary. But we obey.
5. Holiness
“not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance”
Believers are holy through the gift of God the Son, Jesus. In salvation the power our lusts hold over our lives is broken, we can still choose it but we no longer have to choose it. We are no longer ignorant of our place with God. He is Holy, we need to be Holy.
Our own fleshly desires and lusts have no place in our prayers.
This passage is primarily to be interpreted in the broader view of our sanctification. But prayer is a vital part of our sanctification. In prayer we should be and can be Focused, Sober, Hopeful, Obedient and yes Holy.
Studying and Application:
- Think through when and where you have your prayer time. Are there distractions that you have to deal with frequently? Make plans to remove those distractions before your next prayer time.
- Read Isaiah’s experience in Isaiah 6. How should an understanding of God’s Holiness change the way we see ourselves and the world around us?
- Review your prayer list. Take a minute to add any new requests to your list now