“If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).

First Peter 4:11 is God-centered and it makes three easy points:

1. Whoever speaks is to speak the utterances of God. The word for “utterances” or “oracles” is used 3 other times in the New Testament (Acts 7:38; Romans 3:2; Hebrews 5:12). This word in all of these passages speaks of God’s revelation. What do we as preachers and teachers emphasize? Our task is not to say something novel that no one has ever said before, but our task is to speak what God has said. We cannot figure God out on our own (1 Corinthians 1:21) therefore we must lean on what God has revealed about Himself.

2. Whoever serves is do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies. There must be a consciousness that whatever gift we have and whatever successes that we experience are only by the strength that God provides and supplies (Romans 12:3). He blesses us with all our abilities, talents, and gifts.

3. The purpose of our speaking and service is that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. Our speaking and service is not to call attention to ourselves, but it is so that God may be honored (Matthew 5:16; Romans 11:36; Ephesians 3:21).