This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 5:3
3 Neither [mede] as [hos] being lords over [katakurieuo] God's heritage [kleros], but [alla] being [ginomai] ensamples [tupos] to the flock [poimnion]. KJV-Interlinear
3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. NASB
Here we have two parallel principles being taught. The first refers to each and every human being as an individual who is no better than anyone else, and the second, being a reference to any organization that might perceive itself as having power or authority over people.
The second is a command from God, made through Peter, that there is no such authority given to any priest or preacher, or church organization, whereby that person or organization may exercise its control over society. This principle has been ignored and abused since the time the Church of Rome began around the fourth century A.D.
Though they claim their roots back to Peter, the Levitical Priesthood was still in existence in his day, not the Church of Rome. And God made His intentions clear in 70 A.D. when the Roman army thoroughly destroyed that priesthood, and no other priesthood was there to replace it.
Christ alone is the head of the body of believers we call the Church. But, the Church is not limited to our dispensation, but to all believers throughout history.
Throughout history, culture after culture has risen up with their royalty and their priests. Both seeking to usurp power and authority from the masses, and that has always ended in corruption.
The most obvious corruption of this concept in our present day is from the religion of Islam. But there are many cults, and beliefs out there in the world that use religion for the advancement of the personal lusts of its leadership. These lusts include but are certainly not limited to, having multiple wives, abuse of children, the right to murder those who oppose you, radicals and guru’s to no end, and so forth.
Anyone who takes the name of God and uses it to advance their own agenda, whether on a worldwide scale, or from the many scam and scheming tent evangelists, is in violation of this principle.
Likewise, anyone who is included in the first view of this principle, and that includes us all, need to know that God made each and everyone of us, from the smallest component of our very being.
When you see anyone who possesses a magnificent talent, it is not them who should be held in awe, but God, who took a speck of dust and formed it into someone with tremendous beauty, talent, intelligence, etc.
Each one of us was but a hair thickness away from having been made an artistic phenomenon, a mental genius, or something else far inferior. Most of us are in the mid regions of genetic sculpturing, and all of us came from the hand of God.
Before our birth, none of us had any say in our design or circumstances. And after our birth, none of us have any right to boast about our abilities or our circumstances.
We are all subject to accidents, to body odors, to the disposal of human waste, to a wide range of disgusting human characteristics. None of us are superior to anyone else, regardless of the gifts we have been given.
God gave us all, what He gave us, for the glorification of Him, not us. And having received our gifts, whatever they might be, we have an obligation to help others, not ourselves.
Many celebrities in the news are prime examples of this selfish view or attitude concerning their talents.
Your obligation is to the flock, which belongs to God. To help preserve it, to help promote it, to help advance it spiritually, while you advance your own self within your spiritual life.
God provides you with all of the resources He deems that you need, and with all of the opportunities that He deems that you should have, in order to establish your true attitude, beliefs and faith, not to mention the degree of your willingness to obey His mandates.
Now, reading this Bible, you will soon discover that there is nothing new here that you don’t already know or should have known. Everyone knows the differences between right and wrong, as well as their responsibilities in life. Most folks simply choose to ignore them, favoring the drives of their sin nature. Life is easier that way.
But then, the world celebrates over your stupidity in choosing the easy way of the sin nature, in your boasting over your worldly advantages, over your recognition of your earthly superiority over others.
Don’t wait until you die (for their aren’t any second chances) before you discover just how wrong you are to have made the choices in life that you have made.
Jesus Christ came into this world knowing full well that all of humanity was an inferior lot of sinners. He could have turned around and said, ‘Well, they made their choices and that is too bad for them.’ But He did not demonstrate that kind of an attitude. He instead gave His own life for all of us sinners, who are nothing more than specks of dust. He in effect gave Himself, as God, for dirt.
Think about that, the next time you have second thoughts regarding whatever it is that you have, and whether or not you wish to help anyone out, in whatever way is available to you. And, whether you are setting a good or bad example for others, as God defines good or bad examples, not by your definition.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
1 Peter 5:2
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 5:2
2 Feed [poimaino] the flock [poimnion] of God [theos] which is among [en] you [humin], taking the oversight [episkopeo] thereof, not [me] by constraint [anagkastos], but [alla] willingly [hekousios]; not [mede] for filthy lucre [aischrokerdos], but [alla] of a ready mind [prothumos]; KJV-Interlinear
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; NASB
The flock is a reference to all believers. ‘Of God,’ means just that. All believers belong to God and to God alone, not to any preacher, pastor, leader etc.
All believers in this world are given to anyone who qualifies as a teacher or instructor of doctrine. This means that doctrine has to be taught, and the various entertainment events that occupy so many organizations (soccer, baseball, dances, etc.) are not a part of the pastors’ duties. That is, they should not be the priority, or the end objective in order to get members.
From the parent who has a child or two, to the pastor who has a large congregation, to the individual who happens to stumble into a conversation with a stranger, we are all shepherds in one way or another.
‘According to the will of God,’ means in accordance with that which is placed in your care.
God will create opportunities for you and delegate into your care, from time to time, obligations for you to care for the soul of another. It may be a happen chance occurrence, or an ongoing obligation.
The circumstances and the numbers for whom you may be assigned are irrelevant. God owns the flock and God provides His flock with a shepherd or shepherds to see to their spiritual needs. Meeting your obligations for the care of one person, is no less important than being assigned the care of millions. Each individual is important, and each individual is entitled to care as though he or she is the only obligation you have.
Having the opportunity to help people in their spiritual lives, is in effect helping them with something that will last them forever as well as helping them with something (their spiritual life) that is far more valuable than anything else.
The value of your help therefore, is beyond calculation.
This alone should give you a sense of accomplishment and worth.
God will never place an undue burden on you. There will be many folks who will not listen to you. Even your children will have a tendency to ignore your words. But remember one important thing. Your words may come from your mouth, but their origin is from God, and God knows the hearers and what they need at any given moment throughout their life.
Your words may not meet with apparent success, but you may just be laying a subtle foundation that will blossom many years later. The flock belongs to God and God ultimately takes care of His own.
Above all else, do not place upon yourself unreasonable expectations. Do not approach the teaching or instruction of the Word for God with unreasonable expectations. Do not attempt to deceive others or enter into some vulgar, fraudulent, or opportunistic situation whereby you are in a position to take advantage of others.
Be up front in all that you do and never take advantage.
The woods are filled with predators, and the worst of them is the one who pretends to be the shepherd while abusing his or her position of trust.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 5:2
2 Feed [poimaino] the flock [poimnion] of God [theos] which is among [en] you [humin], taking the oversight [episkopeo] thereof, not [me] by constraint [anagkastos], but [alla] willingly [hekousios]; not [mede] for filthy lucre [aischrokerdos], but [alla] of a ready mind [prothumos]; KJV-Interlinear
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; NASB
The flock is a reference to all believers. ‘Of God,’ means just that. All believers belong to God and to God alone, not to any preacher, pastor, leader etc.
All believers in this world are given to anyone who qualifies as a teacher or instructor of doctrine. This means that doctrine has to be taught, and the various entertainment events that occupy so many organizations (soccer, baseball, dances, etc.) are not a part of the pastors’ duties. That is, they should not be the priority, or the end objective in order to get members.
From the parent who has a child or two, to the pastor who has a large congregation, to the individual who happens to stumble into a conversation with a stranger, we are all shepherds in one way or another.
‘According to the will of God,’ means in accordance with that which is placed in your care.
God will create opportunities for you and delegate into your care, from time to time, obligations for you to care for the soul of another. It may be a happen chance occurrence, or an ongoing obligation.
The circumstances and the numbers for whom you may be assigned are irrelevant. God owns the flock and God provides His flock with a shepherd or shepherds to see to their spiritual needs. Meeting your obligations for the care of one person, is no less important than being assigned the care of millions. Each individual is important, and each individual is entitled to care as though he or she is the only obligation you have.
Having the opportunity to help people in their spiritual lives, is in effect helping them with something that will last them forever as well as helping them with something (their spiritual life) that is far more valuable than anything else.
The value of your help therefore, is beyond calculation.
This alone should give you a sense of accomplishment and worth.
God will never place an undue burden on you. There will be many folks who will not listen to you. Even your children will have a tendency to ignore your words. But remember one important thing. Your words may come from your mouth, but their origin is from God, and God knows the hearers and what they need at any given moment throughout their life.
Your words may not meet with apparent success, but you may just be laying a subtle foundation that will blossom many years later. The flock belongs to God and God ultimately takes care of His own.
Above all else, do not place upon yourself unreasonable expectations. Do not approach the teaching or instruction of the Word for God with unreasonable expectations. Do not attempt to deceive others or enter into some vulgar, fraudulent, or opportunistic situation whereby you are in a position to take advantage of others.
Be up front in all that you do and never take advantage.
The woods are filled with predators, and the worst of them is the one who pretends to be the shepherd while abusing his or her position of trust.
Monday, December 8, 2008
1 Peter 5:1
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 5:1
1 The elders [presbuteros] which are among [en] you [humin] I exhort [parakaleo], who [ho] am also an elder [sumpresbuteros], and [kai] a witness [martus] of the sufferings [pathema] of Christ [Christos], and also [kai] a partaker [koinonos] of the glory [doxa] that shall [mello] be revealed [apokalupto]: KJV-Interlinear
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, NASB
The word for elder, ‘presbuteros,’ simply means someone who is older. But more than that, it is presumed that an older person is wiser than the younger upstarts of humanity.
So, the elders are usually referred to as the wise men or leaders of the group, whatever the group happens to be.
In the spiritual life, wisdom comes from learning Bible doctrine and growing up in ones spiritual life. Just as in your normal life, you learn from day to day, either in school or from the streets of life. You learn academically, and experientially.
The longer you are around, the more, presumably, you learn. It is difficult to understand suffering if you have not experienced it. And the wise among us, are usually those who have both learned doctrine, and have learned from daily life. Combining the two, creates a thorough learning experience and understanding of life.
The elder of the spiritual life is not limited by age, but by doctrinal wisdom. And anyone who has learned doctrine, and has lived life, usually has some savvy under their belt.
However based on tradition and the culture of Peter’s day, the elders here most likely referred to those who taught doctrine to their local groups in Asia Minor, to whom this letter was addressed. But this does not exclude parents who teach their children, or study leaders, or even to anyone who happens to enter into a Biblical conversation with a stranger.
Anyone who teaches doctrine, in whatever circumstances, is presumably wiser than those they are teaching, and therefore an elder, even if just for that moment.
Peter refers to the elders, and states clearly that he is one of them. He does not refer to bishops or classes of a clergy hierarchy, but only refers to those who possess wisdom.
Peter does not presume authority over anyone, but simply refers to himself as one who knows doctrine, and as one who has been witness to the sufferings of Christ.
The gospels do not state that Peter was present at the Crucifixion, but it is implied here, that he must have followed Christ to the Cross, even if only from a distance. Thus, he was a witness.
Luke 23:49
49 ‘all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things,’
The phrase, ‘all his acquaintance,’ suggests that many who knew Him were present, even though they kept their distance. Peter most likely was there, somewhere, watching everything unfold.
Peter places himself on the same level as all other people who know and teach doctrine, and he also mentions the ‘glory to be revealed,’ which is our resurrection and eternity and so forth.
Most folks know the facts of life. Most folks know that we are all born and that we all will one day die. Most folks know that there is something after this life. Unfortunately, most folks ignore this and pursue their day to day activities as though that is their only priority.
We rush to work in the morning and then we rush home in the evening, and then the day is over, forgotten and is no more.
We rush to the weekend and then the weekend is over.
We rush to school and then the schooling is over.
We rush through our careers to retirement, and then our retirement is over.
Everything we rush into, never lasts, but soon expires, and we soon forget all of the anxiousness's and all of the anticipations (or anxieties) we experienced while looking forward to those temporary events.
But there is one event which will never end, once it arrives in our lives, and that is eternity.
To those who persevere through all of the ordeals of life, adhering to their spiritual principles, and not giving up their hope, especially when hard times come, then there are special blessings intended for them.
The people to whom Peter initially wrote this letter, were suffering under very difficult conditions. They lived in a world that rejected, even hated Christianity, and in their world there was no nation, no place to which they could turn for help.
In our present day, the world has the USA as well as other regions of the world that they can look to for hope. But one day, that too will disappear, as we near the end of our current dispensation.
Whether we live in prosperous times or difficult times is irrelevant. All of our hope (confidence) comes from God, through doctrine, and that is where your focus should be in life, for your better life.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 5:1
1 The elders [presbuteros] which are among [en] you [humin] I exhort [parakaleo], who [ho] am also an elder [sumpresbuteros], and [kai] a witness [martus] of the sufferings [pathema] of Christ [Christos], and also [kai] a partaker [koinonos] of the glory [doxa] that shall [mello] be revealed [apokalupto]: KJV-Interlinear
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, NASB
The word for elder, ‘presbuteros,’ simply means someone who is older. But more than that, it is presumed that an older person is wiser than the younger upstarts of humanity.
So, the elders are usually referred to as the wise men or leaders of the group, whatever the group happens to be.
In the spiritual life, wisdom comes from learning Bible doctrine and growing up in ones spiritual life. Just as in your normal life, you learn from day to day, either in school or from the streets of life. You learn academically, and experientially.
The longer you are around, the more, presumably, you learn. It is difficult to understand suffering if you have not experienced it. And the wise among us, are usually those who have both learned doctrine, and have learned from daily life. Combining the two, creates a thorough learning experience and understanding of life.
The elder of the spiritual life is not limited by age, but by doctrinal wisdom. And anyone who has learned doctrine, and has lived life, usually has some savvy under their belt.
However based on tradition and the culture of Peter’s day, the elders here most likely referred to those who taught doctrine to their local groups in Asia Minor, to whom this letter was addressed. But this does not exclude parents who teach their children, or study leaders, or even to anyone who happens to enter into a Biblical conversation with a stranger.
Anyone who teaches doctrine, in whatever circumstances, is presumably wiser than those they are teaching, and therefore an elder, even if just for that moment.
Peter refers to the elders, and states clearly that he is one of them. He does not refer to bishops or classes of a clergy hierarchy, but only refers to those who possess wisdom.
Peter does not presume authority over anyone, but simply refers to himself as one who knows doctrine, and as one who has been witness to the sufferings of Christ.
The gospels do not state that Peter was present at the Crucifixion, but it is implied here, that he must have followed Christ to the Cross, even if only from a distance. Thus, he was a witness.
Luke 23:49
49 ‘all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things,’
The phrase, ‘all his acquaintance,’ suggests that many who knew Him were present, even though they kept their distance. Peter most likely was there, somewhere, watching everything unfold.
Peter places himself on the same level as all other people who know and teach doctrine, and he also mentions the ‘glory to be revealed,’ which is our resurrection and eternity and so forth.
Most folks know the facts of life. Most folks know that we are all born and that we all will one day die. Most folks know that there is something after this life. Unfortunately, most folks ignore this and pursue their day to day activities as though that is their only priority.
We rush to work in the morning and then we rush home in the evening, and then the day is over, forgotten and is no more.
We rush to the weekend and then the weekend is over.
We rush to school and then the schooling is over.
We rush through our careers to retirement, and then our retirement is over.
Everything we rush into, never lasts, but soon expires, and we soon forget all of the anxiousness's and all of the anticipations (or anxieties) we experienced while looking forward to those temporary events.
But there is one event which will never end, once it arrives in our lives, and that is eternity.
To those who persevere through all of the ordeals of life, adhering to their spiritual principles, and not giving up their hope, especially when hard times come, then there are special blessings intended for them.
The people to whom Peter initially wrote this letter, were suffering under very difficult conditions. They lived in a world that rejected, even hated Christianity, and in their world there was no nation, no place to which they could turn for help.
In our present day, the world has the USA as well as other regions of the world that they can look to for hope. But one day, that too will disappear, as we near the end of our current dispensation.
Whether we live in prosperous times or difficult times is irrelevant. All of our hope (confidence) comes from God, through doctrine, and that is where your focus should be in life, for your better life.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
1 Peter 4:19
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:19
19 Wherefore [hoste] [kai] let [paratithemi] them that suffer [pascho] according to [kata] the will [thelema] of God [theos] commit the keeping [paratithemi] of their [heautou] souls [psuche] to him in [en] well doing [agathopoiia], as [hos] unto a faithful [pistos] Creator [ktistes]. KJV-Interlinear
19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. NASB
And finally in this chapter, after being hit with the repetition of reminders of what leaning on God verses leaning on the world, will do for your life, you are asked to decide.
2 Tim. 1:12
12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. NASB
Is your life better off when you keep on pursuing your own beliefs, though they differ with the principles being taught, or is your life going to be better off by actually committing yourself to Gods instructions?
Believe it or not, most believers believe in God, in Christ, and in a spiritual life of some sort.
We can say nearly the same thing about Satan. He believes in God and Christ, and even the Holy Spirit. He has interacted with them for far longer than the human race has existed. But Satan does not accept their authority or anything else about them.
Likewise, most believers though they believe in a deity that they have never seen, do not subscribe to the mandates that the Bible gives to us. In most cases, most folks allow the confusion of ambiguous arguments to enter into their minds and that allows them to be creative with the things they believe or choose not to agree with.
So, here Peter gives you the rule, if you are going to live through this life, and if you desire a successful outcome for your life, then why not commit your entire life to Gods instructions and expectations, so you can actually receive the maximums in blessing for both this life and the next?
Why compromise even a little bit, while trying to cling to whatever it is that you cling to in this world, and lose far greater reward?
The biggest barrier in spiritual growth is the arrogance of disagreement. ‘I don’t agree with this or that. I think that this or that should be allowed. I don’t think that, that is what the Bible means.’
And these ideas come almost exclusively from those who do not pursue a daily study.
Certainly all of us will have difficulty in accepting a principle from time to time, but we keep on studying and we keep on having an open mind and sooner or later, the pieces of the puzzle come together so that we can finally see a principle and finally realize its truth.
Likewise, when we hear principles that are wrong, our continued studies will verify their error, sooner or later.
Advancing believers do not bury themselves in an immovable position, but keep an open mind.
Believers who are not advancing (because they do not pursue a daily study) are usually the most vocal, the most critical, and the most rigid in their beliefs. And for all of their indifferent or belligerent attitude, they will lose the most. But, you’ll never convince them otherwise.
The spiritual life is not a competition between people, but between you and yourself. You are your greatest asset or your own worst enemy. The world, other people, other philosophies are really irrelevant when it comes to your success or failure in life, because it is your own decision that determine your future. For God, means success, anything else, means loss.
At some point in your spiritual life, you will have to trust in God, and in the whole concept that God controls your life, controls history, and pretty much everything else. You can begin that trust on your own the easy way, or you can remain distant from Gods mandates and discover that trust in a more difficult fashion, or not at all.
In every case, the choice is yours and yours alone to make. So the next time you look in the mirror, ask yourself whether or not you are wise or just stupid.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:19
19 Wherefore [hoste] [kai] let [paratithemi] them that suffer [pascho] according to [kata] the will [thelema] of God [theos] commit the keeping [paratithemi] of their [heautou] souls [psuche] to him in [en] well doing [agathopoiia], as [hos] unto a faithful [pistos] Creator [ktistes]. KJV-Interlinear
19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right. NASB
And finally in this chapter, after being hit with the repetition of reminders of what leaning on God verses leaning on the world, will do for your life, you are asked to decide.
2 Tim. 1:12
12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. NASB
Is your life better off when you keep on pursuing your own beliefs, though they differ with the principles being taught, or is your life going to be better off by actually committing yourself to Gods instructions?
Believe it or not, most believers believe in God, in Christ, and in a spiritual life of some sort.
We can say nearly the same thing about Satan. He believes in God and Christ, and even the Holy Spirit. He has interacted with them for far longer than the human race has existed. But Satan does not accept their authority or anything else about them.
Likewise, most believers though they believe in a deity that they have never seen, do not subscribe to the mandates that the Bible gives to us. In most cases, most folks allow the confusion of ambiguous arguments to enter into their minds and that allows them to be creative with the things they believe or choose not to agree with.
So, here Peter gives you the rule, if you are going to live through this life, and if you desire a successful outcome for your life, then why not commit your entire life to Gods instructions and expectations, so you can actually receive the maximums in blessing for both this life and the next?
Why compromise even a little bit, while trying to cling to whatever it is that you cling to in this world, and lose far greater reward?
The biggest barrier in spiritual growth is the arrogance of disagreement. ‘I don’t agree with this or that. I think that this or that should be allowed. I don’t think that, that is what the Bible means.’
And these ideas come almost exclusively from those who do not pursue a daily study.
Certainly all of us will have difficulty in accepting a principle from time to time, but we keep on studying and we keep on having an open mind and sooner or later, the pieces of the puzzle come together so that we can finally see a principle and finally realize its truth.
Likewise, when we hear principles that are wrong, our continued studies will verify their error, sooner or later.
Advancing believers do not bury themselves in an immovable position, but keep an open mind.
Believers who are not advancing (because they do not pursue a daily study) are usually the most vocal, the most critical, and the most rigid in their beliefs. And for all of their indifferent or belligerent attitude, they will lose the most. But, you’ll never convince them otherwise.
The spiritual life is not a competition between people, but between you and yourself. You are your greatest asset or your own worst enemy. The world, other people, other philosophies are really irrelevant when it comes to your success or failure in life, because it is your own decision that determine your future. For God, means success, anything else, means loss.
At some point in your spiritual life, you will have to trust in God, and in the whole concept that God controls your life, controls history, and pretty much everything else. You can begin that trust on your own the easy way, or you can remain distant from Gods mandates and discover that trust in a more difficult fashion, or not at all.
In every case, the choice is yours and yours alone to make. So the next time you look in the mirror, ask yourself whether or not you are wise or just stupid.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
1 Peter 4:18
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:18
18 And [kai] if [ei] the righteous [dikaios] scarcely [molis] be saved [sozo], where [pou] shall [phaino] the ungodly [asebes] and [kai] the sinner [hamartolos] appear [phaino]? KJV-Interlinear
18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? NASB
Peter is quoting from Proverbs 11.
Prov. 11:31
31 If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner! NASB
The reward from this earth (sin), is punishment.
It is not without tremendous difficulty that God is able to bring a person from spiritual death to spiritual completeness.
In every step of the way, a person has to want what God has to offer. From the initial desire to even know about God, to the actual listening of the gospel, to the belief in Christ, to the perseverance of a daily study, to learning, to application of doctrine to ones life, to adopting Gods mandates, to avoiding indifference or compromise, to overcoming prior beliefs and habits, to actually advancing all of the way to maturity, to avoiding not falling off the spiritual path because of life's pressures, and all this has to be continued after salvation for the entirety of ones life.
When a person falls, he is disciplined. He has to get up. He has to keep from becoming discouraged. He has to keep from becoming afraid. He has to keep from being overcome by anxiety. He has to have faith, which is the toughest component of ones life. How do you separate faith out from the day to day common sense actions you should take?
And the answer to that one is really simple. Bible study gives you faith, and faith gives you common sense to do the things you need to do in your daily situations. You do what you need to do in life and trust that God is a few steps ahead of you, leading the way.
But remember that your hoped for outcome may not occur, but later on, in hindsight, you will be able to see and understand how God has positioned things for you, in order to get you into a better situation, even though you did not get what you thought you wanted.
You’ll have to look in the mirror to figure out your own personal life, and what it has all meant.
So salvation, spiritual growth, the spiritual life, all for this comes to you not without great difficulty.
How so for the spiritually negative believer or the unbeliever? They neither seek nor desire to advance in a relationship with God. Less so the unbeliever. All the negative person wants is to have their pleasures fulfilled.
God goes to a tremendous amount of effort to get the positive believer launched into his spiritual life, and with that success, comes great reward.
The negative believer, the unbeliever, who do not pursue their spiritual lives, can expect what kind of reward? Zip!
God goes to a great deal of punishment in order to keep the positive believer on track. How much more punishment will the negative or unbeliever receive? Much more.
God does not hold back discipline from those who are positive toward Him. How much more so will he not withhold punishment from those who are negative?
And the answer to all of these questions is simply that the negative believer, the unbeliever, will all receive phenomenal disciplines and judgments in due course. No one escapes.
Looking at the wicked of the world as they prosper, and finding envy within yourself, means that you need to look past their prosperity and look to their ultimate end. What they have is zero, even if they are filthy rich, because their life will end up in total misery, loss, failure and worse.
Sure you want life to be easier now, but this is the devils world. Why would you expect him to give you anything?
God is your ultimate provider, not the world, and God knows your life, God knows your plan (His plan for you), and God knows every little detail of your life along with everyone else's. Satan and the world, do not.
Keep your eyes on doctrine, not on the world, not on circumstances. Keep thinking and considering your options, and follow your heart. God will be there ahead of you, even if you screw up.
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1 Peter 4:18
18 And [kai] if [ei] the righteous [dikaios] scarcely [molis] be saved [sozo], where [pou] shall [phaino] the ungodly [asebes] and [kai] the sinner [hamartolos] appear [phaino]? KJV-Interlinear
18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? NASB
Peter is quoting from Proverbs 11.
Prov. 11:31
31 If the righteous will be rewarded in the earth, How much more the wicked and the sinner! NASB
The reward from this earth (sin), is punishment.
It is not without tremendous difficulty that God is able to bring a person from spiritual death to spiritual completeness.
In every step of the way, a person has to want what God has to offer. From the initial desire to even know about God, to the actual listening of the gospel, to the belief in Christ, to the perseverance of a daily study, to learning, to application of doctrine to ones life, to adopting Gods mandates, to avoiding indifference or compromise, to overcoming prior beliefs and habits, to actually advancing all of the way to maturity, to avoiding not falling off the spiritual path because of life's pressures, and all this has to be continued after salvation for the entirety of ones life.
When a person falls, he is disciplined. He has to get up. He has to keep from becoming discouraged. He has to keep from becoming afraid. He has to keep from being overcome by anxiety. He has to have faith, which is the toughest component of ones life. How do you separate faith out from the day to day common sense actions you should take?
And the answer to that one is really simple. Bible study gives you faith, and faith gives you common sense to do the things you need to do in your daily situations. You do what you need to do in life and trust that God is a few steps ahead of you, leading the way.
But remember that your hoped for outcome may not occur, but later on, in hindsight, you will be able to see and understand how God has positioned things for you, in order to get you into a better situation, even though you did not get what you thought you wanted.
You’ll have to look in the mirror to figure out your own personal life, and what it has all meant.
So salvation, spiritual growth, the spiritual life, all for this comes to you not without great difficulty.
How so for the spiritually negative believer or the unbeliever? They neither seek nor desire to advance in a relationship with God. Less so the unbeliever. All the negative person wants is to have their pleasures fulfilled.
God goes to a tremendous amount of effort to get the positive believer launched into his spiritual life, and with that success, comes great reward.
The negative believer, the unbeliever, who do not pursue their spiritual lives, can expect what kind of reward? Zip!
God goes to a great deal of punishment in order to keep the positive believer on track. How much more punishment will the negative or unbeliever receive? Much more.
God does not hold back discipline from those who are positive toward Him. How much more so will he not withhold punishment from those who are negative?
And the answer to all of these questions is simply that the negative believer, the unbeliever, will all receive phenomenal disciplines and judgments in due course. No one escapes.
Looking at the wicked of the world as they prosper, and finding envy within yourself, means that you need to look past their prosperity and look to their ultimate end. What they have is zero, even if they are filthy rich, because their life will end up in total misery, loss, failure and worse.
Sure you want life to be easier now, but this is the devils world. Why would you expect him to give you anything?
God is your ultimate provider, not the world, and God knows your life, God knows your plan (His plan for you), and God knows every little detail of your life along with everyone else's. Satan and the world, do not.
Keep your eyes on doctrine, not on the world, not on circumstances. Keep thinking and considering your options, and follow your heart. God will be there ahead of you, even if you screw up.
Friday, December 5, 2008
1 Peter 4:17
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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1 Peter 4:17
17 For [hoti] the time [kairos] is come that judgment [krima] must begin [archomai] at [apo] the house [oikos] of God [theos]: and [de] if [ei] it first [proton] begin at [apo] us [hemon], what [tis] shall the end [telos] be of them that obey not [apeitheo] the gospel [euaggelion] of God [theos]? KJV-Interlinear
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? NASB
You have heard the saying, ‘Today, is the first day of the rest of your life.’ And so it is with your spiritual life. Everyday is the beginning and call for your evaluation. Every living moment of your life is subject to Gods evaluation. And God evaluates everyone all of the time.
Jer. 25:29
29 ‘For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,’ declares the Lord of hosts.' NASB
Ezek. 9:6
6 ‘Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.’ So they started with the elders who were before the temple. NASB
All of Gods evaluations begins with His perfect character. All evaluation is based on truth. Therefore, all evaluation begins with those who comply with His will, and then proceeds to others with lesser compliance, from there, until God reaches unbelievers, who have no compliance.
The last potion of this verse, states in contrast to the beginning of this verse, ‘what will be the outcome or those who do not obey?’
The passages in Jeremiah and Ezekiel make it quite clear, that there will be no mercy for those who do not comply. Beginning at the sanctuary of God (believers), and proceediong to those who live further and further away from His sanctuary (spiritual life), then in fact the outcome, of those who drift further and further away from God, will take on greater and greater severity, to such a point that it cannot be described by mere words. That judgment will be too awful for any description, written or verbal.
Peter is writing to people who are living under conditions of suffering. Peter tells them all, that their suffering from this world, is nothing when compared to the suffering that is awaiting people who ignore Gods mandates.
People who ignore God include believers as well as unbelievers.
However, believers who pursue their spiritual life, though they will suffer in this world, because it is the devils world, still have God as their friend and ally, and simply by sticking it out in life, by persevering in their daily studies, they will be blessed immensely and beyond measure, for the inconveniences that are brought on by the world.
Those who ignore God, give up on God, become defiant, indifferent, and so forth against God, will gain nothing for their efforts of disgust. Don’t be numbered with that crowd of losers. You have far more to gain, otherwise.
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1 Peter 4:17
17 For [hoti] the time [kairos] is come that judgment [krima] must begin [archomai] at [apo] the house [oikos] of God [theos]: and [de] if [ei] it first [proton] begin at [apo] us [hemon], what [tis] shall the end [telos] be of them that obey not [apeitheo] the gospel [euaggelion] of God [theos]? KJV-Interlinear
17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? NASB
You have heard the saying, ‘Today, is the first day of the rest of your life.’ And so it is with your spiritual life. Everyday is the beginning and call for your evaluation. Every living moment of your life is subject to Gods evaluation. And God evaluates everyone all of the time.
Jer. 25:29
29 ‘For behold, I am beginning to work calamity in this city which is called by My name, and shall you be completely free from punishment? You will not be free from punishment; for I am summoning a sword against all the inhabitants of the earth,’ declares the Lord of hosts.' NASB
Ezek. 9:6
6 ‘Utterly slay old men, young men, maidens, little children, and women, but do not touch any man on whom is the mark; and you shall start from My sanctuary.’ So they started with the elders who were before the temple. NASB
All of Gods evaluations begins with His perfect character. All evaluation is based on truth. Therefore, all evaluation begins with those who comply with His will, and then proceeds to others with lesser compliance, from there, until God reaches unbelievers, who have no compliance.
The last potion of this verse, states in contrast to the beginning of this verse, ‘what will be the outcome or those who do not obey?’
The passages in Jeremiah and Ezekiel make it quite clear, that there will be no mercy for those who do not comply. Beginning at the sanctuary of God (believers), and proceediong to those who live further and further away from His sanctuary (spiritual life), then in fact the outcome, of those who drift further and further away from God, will take on greater and greater severity, to such a point that it cannot be described by mere words. That judgment will be too awful for any description, written or verbal.
Peter is writing to people who are living under conditions of suffering. Peter tells them all, that their suffering from this world, is nothing when compared to the suffering that is awaiting people who ignore Gods mandates.
People who ignore God include believers as well as unbelievers.
However, believers who pursue their spiritual life, though they will suffer in this world, because it is the devils world, still have God as their friend and ally, and simply by sticking it out in life, by persevering in their daily studies, they will be blessed immensely and beyond measure, for the inconveniences that are brought on by the world.
Those who ignore God, give up on God, become defiant, indifferent, and so forth against God, will gain nothing for their efforts of disgust. Don’t be numbered with that crowd of losers. You have far more to gain, otherwise.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
1 Peter 4:14-16
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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1 Peter 4:14-16
14 If [ei] ye be reproached [oneidizo] for [en] the name [onoma] of Christ [Christos], happy [makarios] are ye; for [hoti] the spirit [pneuma] of glory [doxa] and [kai] of God [theos] resteth [anapauo] upon [epi] you [humas]: on [kata] [men] their part [autos] he is evil spoken of [blasphemeo], but [de] on [kata] your part [humas] he is glorified [doxazo].
15 But [gar] let [pascho] none [me] [tis] of you [humon] suffer [pascho] as [hos] a murderer [phoneus], or [e] as a thief [kleptes], or [e] as an evildoer [kakopoios], or [e] as [hos] a busybody in other men's matters [allotriepiskopos].
16 Yet [de] if [ei] any man suffer as [hos] a Christian [Christianos], let him [aischuno] not [me] be ashamed [aischuno]; but [de] let him glorify [doxazo] God [theos] on [en] this [touto] behalf [meros]. KJV-Interlinear
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. NASB
Everyone who has ever lived in this world, or will ever live in this world, will be the object of hate, derision, prejudice, rejection, scorn, disdain, loathed, detested, and so forth. We are but pawns in this devils world, and innocent victims caught up in a war between Satan and God.
That is the policy of Satan, and therefore of the world. Arrogance is His foundation and hate is his motivation. In order to defeat God Satan has to destroy everyone.
So, evil is never going to be your friend.
Satan has many devices and methods to destroy you. In some cases he will use prosperity, talent, elitism and such. In most cases, he will use poverty, or enticements, or frustration.
The best and most effective tool that Satan has against truth, is the lie. And, Satan has saturated this world with religions, and even non-religions, in order to dilute, blur, and render ambiguous, the truths of God.
Regardless of your position in life, regarding truth, philosophy, religion, or whatever, you will be a victim of the world, sooner or later. And there, is the reason for these verses.
You are going to be slandered, ridiculed, harassed, and not in person, but in principle. That is to say, the policies of the world, as sponsored by Satan, and more obviously by people who pursue the policies of lies. The philosophies of government and society in general create policies and views that will have an impact on public policy, and that will sooner or later, affect you and your life.
Whether the price of bread or fuel, or the interest rates, the availability of an education, the opportunity to even pursue your dreams, or even have friends and a social life, all of these things affect your life, and are affected by the views of society.
You are a victim, whether you recognize it or not. Whether you are a billionaire, or just like everyone else, makes no difference.
The big difference between you and everyone else is your spiritual life, and their lack of one.
God blesses the believers of the world. God issues exceptional blessings to advancing believers, and especially mature believers.
Since everyone in the world is a victim, and since only believers will receive blessings because of this victim status, then it is by far better to be a believer, than not.
Unbelievers may live in the world and they will certainly be the target of trouble, if not during their life, certainly at the end of their life, but they will never be the recipient of blessing.
Their life is all for nothing.
You, as a believer, will be the target of trouble. You will not be able to escape it. So it is far better to understand this principle, stick with your spiritual life, and receive blessings from God, in the many different forms that they will come in, rather than living in this world just as unbelievers do (out of fellowship), get hammered from time to time, and get nothing out of it.
You do not have to be the recipient of direct hatred. No one has to come up to you and slap you in the face. Most of your suffering will be of the indirect kind, where you will be caught up in the worlds troubles, like in a bad economy.
Nothing is aimed at you personally, but the world will treat you as just another steer in a long line heading toward the slaughterhouse.
So, don’t get caught up in sin, don’t be a liar, a gossip, a criminal, and so forth. Don’t become part of the problem. And certainly do not get upset at life, when life goes wrong.
Remember, this is the devils world, and yet God is able to deliver you through all sorts of difficulties, regardless of what the world throws at you. Your greatest weapon for life, is Bible doctrine in your soul. All you have to do is get it into yourself, by staying the course, and letting God do the rest.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:14-16
14 If [ei] ye be reproached [oneidizo] for [en] the name [onoma] of Christ [Christos], happy [makarios] are ye; for [hoti] the spirit [pneuma] of glory [doxa] and [kai] of God [theos] resteth [anapauo] upon [epi] you [humas]: on [kata] [men] their part [autos] he is evil spoken of [blasphemeo], but [de] on [kata] your part [humas] he is glorified [doxazo].
15 But [gar] let [pascho] none [me] [tis] of you [humon] suffer [pascho] as [hos] a murderer [phoneus], or [e] as a thief [kleptes], or [e] as an evildoer [kakopoios], or [e] as [hos] a busybody in other men's matters [allotriepiskopos].
16 Yet [de] if [ei] any man suffer as [hos] a Christian [Christianos], let him [aischuno] not [me] be ashamed [aischuno]; but [de] let him glorify [doxazo] God [theos] on [en] this [touto] behalf [meros]. KJV-Interlinear
14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. 15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God. NASB
Everyone who has ever lived in this world, or will ever live in this world, will be the object of hate, derision, prejudice, rejection, scorn, disdain, loathed, detested, and so forth. We are but pawns in this devils world, and innocent victims caught up in a war between Satan and God.
That is the policy of Satan, and therefore of the world. Arrogance is His foundation and hate is his motivation. In order to defeat God Satan has to destroy everyone.
So, evil is never going to be your friend.
Satan has many devices and methods to destroy you. In some cases he will use prosperity, talent, elitism and such. In most cases, he will use poverty, or enticements, or frustration.
The best and most effective tool that Satan has against truth, is the lie. And, Satan has saturated this world with religions, and even non-religions, in order to dilute, blur, and render ambiguous, the truths of God.
Regardless of your position in life, regarding truth, philosophy, religion, or whatever, you will be a victim of the world, sooner or later. And there, is the reason for these verses.
You are going to be slandered, ridiculed, harassed, and not in person, but in principle. That is to say, the policies of the world, as sponsored by Satan, and more obviously by people who pursue the policies of lies. The philosophies of government and society in general create policies and views that will have an impact on public policy, and that will sooner or later, affect you and your life.
Whether the price of bread or fuel, or the interest rates, the availability of an education, the opportunity to even pursue your dreams, or even have friends and a social life, all of these things affect your life, and are affected by the views of society.
You are a victim, whether you recognize it or not. Whether you are a billionaire, or just like everyone else, makes no difference.
The big difference between you and everyone else is your spiritual life, and their lack of one.
God blesses the believers of the world. God issues exceptional blessings to advancing believers, and especially mature believers.
Since everyone in the world is a victim, and since only believers will receive blessings because of this victim status, then it is by far better to be a believer, than not.
Unbelievers may live in the world and they will certainly be the target of trouble, if not during their life, certainly at the end of their life, but they will never be the recipient of blessing.
Their life is all for nothing.
You, as a believer, will be the target of trouble. You will not be able to escape it. So it is far better to understand this principle, stick with your spiritual life, and receive blessings from God, in the many different forms that they will come in, rather than living in this world just as unbelievers do (out of fellowship), get hammered from time to time, and get nothing out of it.
You do not have to be the recipient of direct hatred. No one has to come up to you and slap you in the face. Most of your suffering will be of the indirect kind, where you will be caught up in the worlds troubles, like in a bad economy.
Nothing is aimed at you personally, but the world will treat you as just another steer in a long line heading toward the slaughterhouse.
So, don’t get caught up in sin, don’t be a liar, a gossip, a criminal, and so forth. Don’t become part of the problem. And certainly do not get upset at life, when life goes wrong.
Remember, this is the devils world, and yet God is able to deliver you through all sorts of difficulties, regardless of what the world throws at you. Your greatest weapon for life, is Bible doctrine in your soul. All you have to do is get it into yourself, by staying the course, and letting God do the rest.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
1 Peter 4:12-13
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:12-13
12 Beloved [agapetos], think it [xenizo] not [me] strange [xenizo] concerning the [humin] fiery trial [purosis] which [en] is [ginomai] to [pros] try [peirasmos] you [humin], as [hos] though some strange thing [xenos] happened [sumbaino] unto you [humin]:
13 But [alla] rejoice [chairo], inasmuch as [katho] ye are partakers [koinoneo] of Christ's [Christos] sufferings [pathema]; that [hina], when [en] his [autos] glory [doxa] shall be revealed [apokalupsis], ye may be glad [chairo] also [kai] with exceeding joy [agalliao]. KJV-Interlinear
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. NASB
From the moment that you were born into this world, life has been one trial after another. Whether you were aware of it or not, is irrelevant, because the world represents the jungle environment in which we live.
You may have been born with a silver spoon or a wooden spoon, and that too is irrelevant. Life in this world is the same for everyone, whether privileged or not.
We all face the same obligations in life, and we all face the same tests that the world will throw at us. The only difference is, in the resources each of us has with which to deal with life’s trials.
The trials of life, are described here as fiery ordeals. This is not a reference to the burning of Christians in Rome, which did not even begin for several decades after Peter wrote this.
The fiery ordeals consist of everything that becomes a test of ones faith or spiritual strength. For some it may be a broken fingernail, for others it may be a ravaging cancer, or as a victim of some type of violence.
We all have trials of one sort or another. Most of us have financial problems, or employment related problems, or social problems of one type or another.
The Bible classifies the sources of problems that you will face, in four general categories – from your own thoughts, from other people, from systems (bureaucracies, government), or from natural or environmentally occurring disasters (weather, earthquake, genetic, cancers, accidents, etc.).
Each of these can cause you to fail in your spiritual life, and you will be hammered by each and every one of these sources of trouble, throughout your entire life.
One of the biggest difficulties that people have, is in not knowing what to do, or in doing nothing.
Prayer is good, but the spiritual life is intended to be a proactive life, not a passive life. Need medical attention? Pray certainly, but God has already answered your prayers. He has provided doctors, hospitals, bandaids and so forth. Use them.
Need a job? God has provided a job for you, but you have to answer ads, fill out applications, and go looking for it.
God has given us all an economic system with which to earn a living, an educational system with which to learn a trade, a medical system with which to get well, an agricultural system with which to feed ourselves, etc., etc., etc.
As a believer in Christ, as a human being in this devils world, you will face suffering in many ways. And because this is the devils world, you can count on it. And because the vast majority of the human race subscribes to non-biblical beliefs, the sources for trouble increase, all the more.
So do not be surprised, when the weather fails, when economies fail, when trouble invades your life. You do not have to be responsible for the trouble to become its victim. In fact most trouble will come to you, without your invitation.
You just should not participate in the worldly systems that produce trouble, so as to become a part of the cause of your troubles. Don’t get involved in bad politics, criminal activities, social dysfunctions, etc.
And certainly when trouble enters into your life, do not go crying, ‘Why me? What have I done to deserve this? God is punishing me for something I did thirty years ago! Not fair!’
And the world is not going to be fair, ever. The world intends to make your life either miserable or phenomenally prosperous, in order to get you away from God, Christ, doctrine, and especially your spiritual life.
Distractions come from all sides. The only way that you can stay ahead of them, is to pursue your daily spiritual life, and grow up.
Jesus Christ controls history, not Satan, not man, not the weather. God has a plan for your life, but that plan does not function as intended unless you are advancing in your spiritual life.
In Gods plan, you cannot fail and the world cannot defeat you. You will still face trouble, and you will still suffer, but all suffering, when you are advancing in your spiritual life, is suffering for Christ.
Use it to focus on Him, rather than on your own selfpity. Use it to help you advance in your spiritual life. Use it to your advantage, and then when you finally face Christ, you will become the recipient of the highest of honors imaginable.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:12-13
12 Beloved [agapetos], think it [xenizo] not [me] strange [xenizo] concerning the [humin] fiery trial [purosis] which [en] is [ginomai] to [pros] try [peirasmos] you [humin], as [hos] though some strange thing [xenos] happened [sumbaino] unto you [humin]:
13 But [alla] rejoice [chairo], inasmuch as [katho] ye are partakers [koinoneo] of Christ's [Christos] sufferings [pathema]; that [hina], when [en] his [autos] glory [doxa] shall be revealed [apokalupsis], ye may be glad [chairo] also [kai] with exceeding joy [agalliao]. KJV-Interlinear
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation. NASB
From the moment that you were born into this world, life has been one trial after another. Whether you were aware of it or not, is irrelevant, because the world represents the jungle environment in which we live.
You may have been born with a silver spoon or a wooden spoon, and that too is irrelevant. Life in this world is the same for everyone, whether privileged or not.
We all face the same obligations in life, and we all face the same tests that the world will throw at us. The only difference is, in the resources each of us has with which to deal with life’s trials.
The trials of life, are described here as fiery ordeals. This is not a reference to the burning of Christians in Rome, which did not even begin for several decades after Peter wrote this.
The fiery ordeals consist of everything that becomes a test of ones faith or spiritual strength. For some it may be a broken fingernail, for others it may be a ravaging cancer, or as a victim of some type of violence.
We all have trials of one sort or another. Most of us have financial problems, or employment related problems, or social problems of one type or another.
The Bible classifies the sources of problems that you will face, in four general categories – from your own thoughts, from other people, from systems (bureaucracies, government), or from natural or environmentally occurring disasters (weather, earthquake, genetic, cancers, accidents, etc.).
Each of these can cause you to fail in your spiritual life, and you will be hammered by each and every one of these sources of trouble, throughout your entire life.
One of the biggest difficulties that people have, is in not knowing what to do, or in doing nothing.
Prayer is good, but the spiritual life is intended to be a proactive life, not a passive life. Need medical attention? Pray certainly, but God has already answered your prayers. He has provided doctors, hospitals, bandaids and so forth. Use them.
Need a job? God has provided a job for you, but you have to answer ads, fill out applications, and go looking for it.
God has given us all an economic system with which to earn a living, an educational system with which to learn a trade, a medical system with which to get well, an agricultural system with which to feed ourselves, etc., etc., etc.
As a believer in Christ, as a human being in this devils world, you will face suffering in many ways. And because this is the devils world, you can count on it. And because the vast majority of the human race subscribes to non-biblical beliefs, the sources for trouble increase, all the more.
So do not be surprised, when the weather fails, when economies fail, when trouble invades your life. You do not have to be responsible for the trouble to become its victim. In fact most trouble will come to you, without your invitation.
You just should not participate in the worldly systems that produce trouble, so as to become a part of the cause of your troubles. Don’t get involved in bad politics, criminal activities, social dysfunctions, etc.
And certainly when trouble enters into your life, do not go crying, ‘Why me? What have I done to deserve this? God is punishing me for something I did thirty years ago! Not fair!’
And the world is not going to be fair, ever. The world intends to make your life either miserable or phenomenally prosperous, in order to get you away from God, Christ, doctrine, and especially your spiritual life.
Distractions come from all sides. The only way that you can stay ahead of them, is to pursue your daily spiritual life, and grow up.
Jesus Christ controls history, not Satan, not man, not the weather. God has a plan for your life, but that plan does not function as intended unless you are advancing in your spiritual life.
In Gods plan, you cannot fail and the world cannot defeat you. You will still face trouble, and you will still suffer, but all suffering, when you are advancing in your spiritual life, is suffering for Christ.
Use it to focus on Him, rather than on your own selfpity. Use it to help you advance in your spiritual life. Use it to your advantage, and then when you finally face Christ, you will become the recipient of the highest of honors imaginable.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
1 Peter 4:11
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:11
11 If any man [ei tis] speak [laleo], let him speak as [hos] the oracles [logion] of God [theos]; if any man [ei tis] minister [diakoneo], let him do it as [hos] of [ek] the ability [ischus] which [hos] God [theos] giveth [choregeo]: that [hina] God [theos] in [en] all things [pas] may be glorified [doxazo] through [dia] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos], to whom [hos] be [esti] praise [doxa] and [kai] dominion [kratos] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever [aion]. Amen [amen]. KJV-Interlinear
11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. NASB
Speaking, is the result of the content of the soul. Doing anything, is a result of the content of the soul. Even thinking, is obviously a result of the content of the soul.
You cannot think, say, or do anything, that has not first passed through your soul. Although, it may be questionable about the thinking processes of some folks. However, that is more of a humorous perception than anything else.
Now here is the tough part of human life. At war within you, is the sin nature on the one hand and the spiritual side of you, on the other.
Here Peter, instructs us to think, say and do everything in life, while in fellowship and under the control of the Holy Spirit. Since being in fellowship means sin free, then holding your tongue, holding your thoughts, even holding your actions in check can be trying at times.
You cannot accomplish this while under the control of the sin nature.
Everything given to you, including the air that you breathe, the things you have, and the circumstances that surround your life, are given to you in order that you can advance to spiritual maturity, and use your possessions, situation, etc. in such a manner as to help you advance to spiritual maturity, and practice Gods will.
Anything else is an abuse of all that God has provided.
Only you can examine your life and discover what you should or should not be thinking, saying, or doing, with what God has provided you in your life.
It is easy to ignore your responsibilities. It is easy to not care about your responsibilities. It is easy to redefine, or modify, or compromise your responsibilities. But when it all comes down to the final say about your life, that say, will be in Christ’s hands, not yours.
When placing your life in the hands of your sin nature, you might as well be rolling an infinite sided pair of dice. Your winning number will never come up.
But when placing your life in the hands of God, then the result of your life will always be a winning outcome.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:11
11 If any man [ei tis] speak [laleo], let him speak as [hos] the oracles [logion] of God [theos]; if any man [ei tis] minister [diakoneo], let him do it as [hos] of [ek] the ability [ischus] which [hos] God [theos] giveth [choregeo]: that [hina] God [theos] in [en] all things [pas] may be glorified [doxazo] through [dia] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos], to whom [hos] be [esti] praise [doxa] and [kai] dominion [kratos] for [eis] ever [aion] and ever [aion]. Amen [amen]. KJV-Interlinear
11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. NASB
Speaking, is the result of the content of the soul. Doing anything, is a result of the content of the soul. Even thinking, is obviously a result of the content of the soul.
You cannot think, say, or do anything, that has not first passed through your soul. Although, it may be questionable about the thinking processes of some folks. However, that is more of a humorous perception than anything else.
Now here is the tough part of human life. At war within you, is the sin nature on the one hand and the spiritual side of you, on the other.
Here Peter, instructs us to think, say and do everything in life, while in fellowship and under the control of the Holy Spirit. Since being in fellowship means sin free, then holding your tongue, holding your thoughts, even holding your actions in check can be trying at times.
You cannot accomplish this while under the control of the sin nature.
Everything given to you, including the air that you breathe, the things you have, and the circumstances that surround your life, are given to you in order that you can advance to spiritual maturity, and use your possessions, situation, etc. in such a manner as to help you advance to spiritual maturity, and practice Gods will.
Anything else is an abuse of all that God has provided.
Only you can examine your life and discover what you should or should not be thinking, saying, or doing, with what God has provided you in your life.
It is easy to ignore your responsibilities. It is easy to not care about your responsibilities. It is easy to redefine, or modify, or compromise your responsibilities. But when it all comes down to the final say about your life, that say, will be in Christ’s hands, not yours.
When placing your life in the hands of your sin nature, you might as well be rolling an infinite sided pair of dice. Your winning number will never come up.
But when placing your life in the hands of God, then the result of your life will always be a winning outcome.
Monday, December 1, 2008
1 Peter 4:10
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:10
10 As [kathos] every man [hekastos] hath received [lambano] the gift [charisma], even so minister [diakoneo] the same [autos] one to another [eis] [heautou], as [hos] good [kalos] stewards [oikonomos] of the manifold [poikilos] grace [charis] of God [theos]. KJV-Interlinear
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. NASB
As visitors to this planet, our true home being in heaven, God has give to each one of us, gifts, resources, things that belong to Him, but have been placed in our custody and care while He (Christ) is away.
We are left to the management of Gods possessions. And the principle possession of God is Bible doctrine, which has been left in our care for the nourishing of our own souls and therefore our lives, both now and forever.
Beyond doctrine, which becomes the foundation for our life and orientation to everything else in life, we are expected to be good stewards as we live and interact with people.
Whether they are obnoxious or pleasant makes no different, our attitude is to be consistent with all of whom we interact.
When people ignore their spiritual lives, when people reject God, when people openly abuse that which has been given to them, when they simply don’t care, then trouble is not far behind.
We are currently witnessing hard economic times, and for most folks, the belief is that these things can be solved with government controls or policies, or some type of human solution. However, we know that Jesus Christ controls history, and all of life revolves around mans attitude toward Christ. Positive attitudes reap reward, negative attitudes reap trouble.
And society seems to have gone indifferent to the very basics of morals. Left unchecked, then this uncaring attitude will turn society into selfish animals. In every situation in history, negative volition toward God, doctrine and ones spiritual side of life, has earned society extremely hard times. Often it takes hard times before people realize that life is not theirs for free without responsibility or stewardship. There are always repercussions.
Everyone born into this world, received the gift of life from God. Everyone receives a gift or a talent of some sort. And with these two things they can find their way through life, to God, doctrine and their spiritual life.
Everyone who has believed in Christ, has received the gift of eternal life. A double life gift, if you will. Everyone likewise, receives a spiritual gift, which may be an enhancement of their physical gift, or something else entirely.
Again, these gifts are there to aid you in your spiritual life, which includes responsibility and accountability for your decisions in life. You will be held accountable. Unfortunately people take these things and head off into the jungle of their own design, and then wonder what happened, when life falls apart.
Jer. 29:11
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ NASB
God has a plan for your life, it is a phenomenal plan which will get you through this life, and position you for the best possible and phenomenal life for all of eternity.
Unfortunately, most folks do not give this concept much credibility. They would rather stampede over and kill other people in order to get a good deal on a television, caring nothing about the ones they hurt, and still maintain that their values are better than those spelled out in the Bible.
And by the way, this verse in Jeremiah is one that you should place on your refrigerator, or note-board, and certainly within your own memory.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Peter 4:10
10 As [kathos] every man [hekastos] hath received [lambano] the gift [charisma], even so minister [diakoneo] the same [autos] one to another [eis] [heautou], as [hos] good [kalos] stewards [oikonomos] of the manifold [poikilos] grace [charis] of God [theos]. KJV-Interlinear
10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. NASB
As visitors to this planet, our true home being in heaven, God has give to each one of us, gifts, resources, things that belong to Him, but have been placed in our custody and care while He (Christ) is away.
We are left to the management of Gods possessions. And the principle possession of God is Bible doctrine, which has been left in our care for the nourishing of our own souls and therefore our lives, both now and forever.
Beyond doctrine, which becomes the foundation for our life and orientation to everything else in life, we are expected to be good stewards as we live and interact with people.
Whether they are obnoxious or pleasant makes no different, our attitude is to be consistent with all of whom we interact.
When people ignore their spiritual lives, when people reject God, when people openly abuse that which has been given to them, when they simply don’t care, then trouble is not far behind.
We are currently witnessing hard economic times, and for most folks, the belief is that these things can be solved with government controls or policies, or some type of human solution. However, we know that Jesus Christ controls history, and all of life revolves around mans attitude toward Christ. Positive attitudes reap reward, negative attitudes reap trouble.
And society seems to have gone indifferent to the very basics of morals. Left unchecked, then this uncaring attitude will turn society into selfish animals. In every situation in history, negative volition toward God, doctrine and ones spiritual side of life, has earned society extremely hard times. Often it takes hard times before people realize that life is not theirs for free without responsibility or stewardship. There are always repercussions.
Everyone born into this world, received the gift of life from God. Everyone receives a gift or a talent of some sort. And with these two things they can find their way through life, to God, doctrine and their spiritual life.
Everyone who has believed in Christ, has received the gift of eternal life. A double life gift, if you will. Everyone likewise, receives a spiritual gift, which may be an enhancement of their physical gift, or something else entirely.
Again, these gifts are there to aid you in your spiritual life, which includes responsibility and accountability for your decisions in life. You will be held accountable. Unfortunately people take these things and head off into the jungle of their own design, and then wonder what happened, when life falls apart.
Jer. 29:11
‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ NASB
God has a plan for your life, it is a phenomenal plan which will get you through this life, and position you for the best possible and phenomenal life for all of eternity.
Unfortunately, most folks do not give this concept much credibility. They would rather stampede over and kill other people in order to get a good deal on a television, caring nothing about the ones they hurt, and still maintain that their values are better than those spelled out in the Bible.
And by the way, this verse in Jeremiah is one that you should place on your refrigerator, or note-board, and certainly within your own memory.
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