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Proverbs 8:25-36
25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the
hills, I was brought forth;
26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the
fields, Or the primal dust of the world.
27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on
the face of the deep,
28 When He established the clouds above, When He
strengthened the fountains of the deep,
29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So
that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the
foundations of the earth,
30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him,
31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my
delight was with the sons of
men.
32 "Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, And do not
disdain it.
34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains
favor from the LORD;
36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own
soul; All those who hate me love death."
Father God, bless us and guide us in all that we do. We
ask that the Holy Spirit opens our heart and mind to fully comprehend Your
Word. In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
Book of I Peter 5:8-14
NKJV
This
week’s lesson Peter continues with being committed to Jesus and resisting
temptation. He tells us the suffering we endure here on earth for just a short
time is nothing when compared to a time table of eternity. Peter concludes this
book with a farewell and a prayer of peace for all in Christ.
8 Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.
Be
sober; Meaning to be
sober-minded, watchful, vigilant. Paul also tells to be sober in Thessalonians;
1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. The idea is, that the Lord Jesus, when
he comes, will find the wicked sunk not only in carnal security, but in sinful
indulgences, and that those who are Christians should not only to be awake and
watchful as in the daytime, but also in the night. We should be just as alert
in the evening and night as we are in the day time during our employment. Going
out and joining in night time revelry is not being sober minded it is living in
the world.
Anyone who expects to see
Jesus coming soon, ought to be sober. Have you heard people say they have no
time for Jesus now, but in the future when things slow up a bit they will go to
church or read the Bible? The sad part about this attitude toward Jesus is that
things never slow down for them and their life can be snuffed out in a moment,
therefore they should be habitually sober minded at all times so they are
ready. A Christian needs to lead their life in such a manner that when they are
called to meet Jesus they are ready to go and have no anxiety about the life
they are living.
Be
vigilant; What are we
to be vigilant about? It is temptation/sin and what the next phrase states; we need
to be alert at all times. We are Satan’s prey; he is the predator.
Because
your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may
devour; We learn from
Job that the devil does go about this universe seeking the weak to claim as his
own. Job 1:6-7 Now there
was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and
Satan also came among them. 7 And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you
come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on
the earth, and from walking back and forth on it." Job
2:2
Lions attack sick, young,
or struggling animals; they choose victims who are alone or not alert. Peter
warns us to watch out for Satan when we are suffering; being persecuted; feeling
alone; weak; helpless; cut off from other believers; focused on troubles that
you forget to watch for danger. These are the times when you are especially
vulnerable to Satan's attacks. To resist the devil, one must keep their eyes
focused on Jesus. James
4:7 Therefore submit to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Job is an excellent example for us to follow. He kept his
eyes on God and resisted what his friends and wife said to him. He knew God and
kept his trust in God to pull him through; he was living God’s will and that is
what we need to do.
9 Resist
him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced
by your brotherhood in the world.
Resist
him; This is
referring to the devil and all that he sets before us; temptation and sin.
Satan knows our weaknesses and just the simplest things will flip that switch
in our mind to get us to think about the desires of our flesh, in hopes to get
us to sin. He uses the desires of our flesh to turn our eyes from God.
Steadfast
in the faith; We are
to confide in God; rely on him alone. The means of successful resistance are
found in the resources of faith. The resources being what Jesus did on the
Cross for us in our place. What we can’t do, He did for us, so that by placing
our faith in the acts of the Cross we are covered with Jesus blood onto
salvation. Ephesians tell us how to resist and stay steadfast.
Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and
in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be
able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore
take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil
day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with
truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having
shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all,
taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery
darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God;
Knowing
that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world; This phrase is telling Peter’s
listeners, past and present, that we aren’t alone when suffering. There is
support resulting from the fact that others have endured like suffering. We can
bear pain more easily if we feel that we are not alone; that it is a common
thing; that we are in circumstances where we may have sympathy from others.
This knowledge can be a great value to us in view of persecutions, trials, and
death. The consideration suggested here by Peter to sustain those whom he
addressed, in the trials of persecution, may be applied now to sustain and comfort
us in every form of real calamity. We are all liable to suffering. We are
exposed to sickness, bereavement, and death. We often feel as if we cannot bear
up under the sufferings that may be before us, but knowing Jesus and others have suffered like circumstances gives
us strength.
10 But may
the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after
you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
But
may the God of all grace; God
is the one and only source of grace. There is no other god that can supply the
grace God does when we accept His Son Jesus as our life support for the here
and now, and eternity. God’s grace is the source of all spiritual comfort and
help for every occasion. This verse and the next is a short prayer that Peter
prayed for his listeners. A prayer of this kind by an apostle would be assurance
to them the needed grace would be granted them to endure suffering.
Who
called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus; When God calls someone it is much more
than an invitation, it is a Divine summons. God calls us to eternal glory
through His Son Jesus who suffered on the Cross for us. All we have to do is
accept and believe in this act of love Jesus did for us and that He rose on the
third day. With Jesus resurrection He made it possible for all to partake of eternal
life if they so desire by denying self, repentance, and vow to live a life for
Jesus.
After
you have suffered a while; This
suffering pertains to persecution and the struggle a Christian has between
their flesh and the Spirit. To endure this suffering for a while here on earth
is minute compared to eternal happiness. When a person views the suffering this
way, it doesn’t seem so bad, when the reward is Heaven.
Perfect;
Perfect pertains to
the trials we endure here on earth to chasten us and make us more like Jesus.
Establish;
Through the suffering
and chastening of our Lord we establish a solid foundation. As we grow in
Christ we will build upon this foundation and become established in the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
Strengthen;
Through suffering,
chastening, and becoming establish in Jesus we will be strengthened to
withstand the fiery darts that Satan throws at us. As we become rooted in the
Gospel and can withstand the winds of tribulations, we are like a mighty oak
with deep roots that withstands a mighty wind.
And
settle you; Settle means to establish one on a
firm foundation. The suggestion is to a house which is so firmly fixed on a
foundation that it will not be moved by winds or floods. By studying the Bible
our foundation becomes firm and settled.
11 To Him be
the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
This is referencing Jesus
and He is the only one of Glory. Because of the Cross Jesus has dominion
forever and ever. Praise be to God!
12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider
him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the
true grace of God in which you stand.
Silvanus,
or Silas was the intimate
friend and companion of Paul, and had labored much with him in the regions
where the churches were situated to which this Epistle was addressed. In what
manner he became acquainted with Peter, or why he was now with him in Babylon
is unknown.
Silas was one of the men
chosen to deliver the letter from the Jerusalem council to the church in
Antioch. (Acts
15:22 Then it pleased the
apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own
company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading
men among the brethren.) He
accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey (Acts
15:40-18:11), is
mentioned by Paul in the salutation of Paul's letters to the Thessalonians (1Thessalonians 1:1; 2Thessalonians
1:1), and
ministered with Timothy in Corinth. 2
Corinthians 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was
preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but
in Him was Yes. Sivanus
was a faithful brother in Christ and was with Paul throughout a lot of his
ministry.
13 She who
is in Babylon, elect together with you,
greets you; and so does Mark my
son.
She
who is in Babylon, elect together with you,
greets you; She in
this phrase is referring to fellow Christians/church in Babylon. “Elect
together with you”, signifies they are followers of Jesus; Born Again
Christians. They are sending greeting via Peter’s letter.
And
so does Mark my son; This Mark is also called John Mark,
and was known to many because he had traveled widely (Acts 12:25-13:13; Acts
15:36-41) and
was recognized as a leader in the church (Colossians 4:10;
Philemon 1:24). Mark was probably with the disciples
at the time of Jesus' arrest (Mark 14:51-52).
Peter calls him his son
meaning a young faithful brother in Jesus Christ.
14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to
you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Greet
one another with a kiss of love; A
common method of an affectionate greeting in the times of the apostles.
Probably not on the lips, but on the cheek.
Peace
to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.; This speaks of Sanctifying Peace to all that are God’s
Children, which comes through the Cross of Christ.
Peter
wrote this letter just before the cruel emperor Nero began persecuting
Christians in Rome and throughout the empire. Afraid for his life, Peter had
three times denied even knowing Jesus (John 18:15-27). But here, having learned how to
stand firm in an evil world, he encouraged other Christians who were facing
persecution for their faith. Peter was martyred for his faith because he lived
by the words he wrote. Those who stand for Christ will be persecuted because
the world is ruled by Christ's greatest enemy. But just as the small group of
early believers stood against persecution, so we must be willing to stand for
our faith with the patience, endurance, and courage that Peter exhibited.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created
that are in heaven and that are on earth,
visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.
All
things were created through Him and for Him.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God,
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he
cannot see the kingdom of God."
The
Lighthouse Full Gospel Church
Sinners
Prayer; Pray this, and if you believe it with your heart, Jesus will save you!
“Lord Jesus I know I am a
sinner. I confess my sins to you; I am
sorry for my sins; I repent (Meaning, desiring to turn from a sinful
lifestyle.) of all my sins, and I am asking for your forgiveness. I believe that only you can forgive sin. I commit my life to you and ask you to come
into my heart, direct, and take charge of my life. I believe that you died to set me free from
my sinful lifestyle and you rose from the dead to give me eternal life, and
right now you are seated at the Right Hand of God Almighty. I believe you are
the Son of God; the only Way, the only Truth, the only Life, and my
Savior.” I believe this and have faith
you will make a new person out of me, by sending the Holy Spirit to dwell in my
heart and lead me in a new life. In Jesus name I pray Amen.”
(John 3:16,17; Romans
3:23; 6:23; 5:8; 10:9-13; Ephesians
2:8-10; 1 John 5:11-14; 1:6-10)
(Sin: Rom. 1:22-32; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph.
5:3-7)
