1 peter 5:8-9 RESIST THE ENEMY BY STANDING STRONG IN FAITH

 S- 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

O – Alert and sober, resist devil by standing firm in faith.

A – It seems like that the world has become a play ground of the devil with wars, rapes, cancers, thefts, hatred, jealousy, back biting, same gender marriages, ISIS etc. The devil is desperately trying to distract the people from the Lord and feeding them on the lies that, if God existed, these miseries would not happen. He needs to be resisted!!! We can resist him and his lies by standing firm on the faith. How can we stand firm on the faith? It is only by resting our faith on the word of God and His promises. When we go through a crisis we should not corner ourselves thinking that this is only happening to us but understand that other believers are also undergoing the same phase.

P – Mighty heavenly father, how precious are your promises in the word? That you will never leave us or forsake us and that all things happen for the good of those who love you. We trust you father, with all the anxieties that we are going through. We submit them to you father. We need not worry because we have handed our troubles to a heavenly father who holds the universe in His hands. Help us to never forget who you are!!! Enable us to resist the devil and always meditate upon your word to make us stand strong in our faith.

In Jesus Precious name I pray

AMEN

1 PETER 5:6-7 HUMBLE ENOUGH TO CAST YOUR ANXIETIES ON HIM

S – 1 peter 5:6-7

Humble yourselves therefore under God’s mighty hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

O - Humble - under God’s mighty hand – lift you up in due time

       Cast anxiety on Him – he cares for you

A – When we get anxious and doubtful in circumstances we fall into, we take matters into our own hands. We try to do our best and many a times fail and also end in frustration. These verses teach me that instead of worrying about what is going on in my life I need to put my focus on God’s love and how much he cares for me. I just need to bring my troubles and pressures to him. His ways are simply marvelous and cannot be comprehended by a normal person. I need to humble myself and learn to submit all my troubles to him through prayer.

P – Abba Father, Thank you for speaking to me through these verses and removing the worries of my heart. I worry a lot of many things and this is my pride of taking matters into my own hands. As I learn in this verse I will let go of my issues and bring them to the loving father for whom this matter is very simple. I trust in you and submit myself to you. Help me to let go of anxieties and submit and humble myself under your mighty hands.

In Jesus powerful name I pray

AMEN

1 PETER 5:2,4 SHEPHERD OF GOD'S FLOCK

S – 1 Peter 5: 2, 4

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, not pursuing dishonest gain but eager to serve.

And when the chief Shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

O – 1. Be Shepherds, because you are willing, SERVE, crown of glory.

A – When I had mediated on these verses earlier I had written about the responsibilities of the elders of the church. But now the verses teach me that I am responsible for the people under my sphere of influence. God has placed me in a particular home, office, and neighborhood etc where only I can influence the people and lead them to Christ. Being Christian leader is not about standing in front and leading but it is more about serving. You can only lead people to Christ by having the servant hood nature. This is what the Lord taught us with His life too. This serving that I do should not be out of obligation but as a submission to the will of God. An attitude of “This is what the Lord desires of me and so this is what I need to do”. It might be a thankless job but when the Chirf Shepherd, my Lord returns, He will reward me and so the return from the serving here is not at all a criteria for my joy and happiness.

P – Abba father, I know that you have placed me where I am now and I have responsibility to serve the ones around me and lead them to you, father. Enable me to realize the needs of others and serve them well as you would serve them. Help me to develop the servant nature in me with the help of the Holy Spirit. Enable me to focus on you while serving and not on anything or anyone on this earth.

In Jesus matchless name I pray

AMEN.

1 PETER 4:12-13 REJOICE EVEN IN SUFFERING

S - Dear Friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

O - 1. Be not surprised at the tests come on you.
2. rejoice as we participate in Christ suffering
3. When his glory is revealed we will be overjoyed.

A - The secret to Christian life is finding joy in Christ , whatever may be the situation. There might be trials and tribulations in my life but they are only tests to build my character and transform to his image. I need to rejoice even in my trials since I am not alone and my helper and guide dwells in me. If I am able to undergo the trail with joy then when his glory is revealed my joy will know no bounds.

P - Precious Father, Enable me to have my hope on you and not anything or anyone of this world. I can find joy only if I have my life set on you. I acknowledge that you are with me and I feel your love. Enable me to walk worthy of the grace that you have shown upon me. Help me overcome difficult situation with your strength.
In Jesus Name I pray
AMEN 

1 PETER 4:10 STEWARDS OF GRACE

S - 1 Peter 4 : 10

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms

O – 1. Gifts are for serving

2.  We are to be faithful stewards of God’s grace.

A – All the talents or gifts that I have are from God. They were not gained by my strength or abilities. Hence I have nothing to take pride of. But I should humble myself to acknowledge God’s grace upon me. All that has been given to me is to be used for serving others. I need to use it wisely to serve others and hence be a steward to the grace given to me.

P – Abba Father, You have blessed with lot of gifts and they were only your favor and I acknowledge that. Whether it is money, time, health, spiritual gifts etc I need to use them to serve others and show the same grace that you have shown me. Many a time I have fallen short of it. Guide me to be useful to your kingdom and worthy to be called steward of your grace.

In Jesus mighty name I pray

AMEN.

1 Peter 3:14-16 BE PREPARED TO GIVE THE REASON OF HOPE

S – 1 Peter 3:14-16 But even if you should suffer for what is right you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

O - Blessed if you suffer for what is right. Be prepared to answer the reason for the hope.

A – What stands out to me in this passage is that we are to be His witness at all times - whether in hardships and suffering or happy and joyful events in our life. When we undergo suffering, the people around us tend to notice how we handle the situation. When they see that we are joyful in spite of our circumstances and wait patiently upon the Lord, then His name is glorified and we become a witness to them. This in turn can lead another to Christ. My hope is not set on a series of circumstances in this temporary home, Earth. But my hope is set on the Lord Jesus Jesus Christ who is my savior and my eternal life with Him. Nothing or No one should shake me away from this hope. “Always be prepared” in the verse point out that we should be ready to share the gospel with any person who seeks to understand the peace and hope we have in the Lord.

P – Abba Father, Enable me to stand as a witness for you in all walks of my life. I might not know the answer to what might be happening but I will continue to trust in you and wait patiently upon you. Enable me to share the hope I have in you with many others. Give me the right words and action for this. Bless me to do this with a lot of love so as to convince them and lead them to you. I submit my weakness to you and seek to operate on your strength alone. I realize that without you I am nothing.

Amen 

This passage reminds me of a sister at my church who underwent the worst trauma of her life. Her life is dedicated to the Lord and sharing the good news to others. No one could understand why this happened to her!! But she chose to be at peace, trusting the Lord and not wasting one opportunity to share the gospel with others. May the Lord enable us all to stand strong just like this sister did! 

1 PETER 3:8-9 REPAY EVIL WITH BLESSING

S -1 Peter 3:8-9

Finally all of you, be like minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

O - Love one another, repay evil with blessing, and inherit a blessing

A – We are called to be transformed into the image of Christ and this passage leads us to that. For a normal person the trend is to insult back for an insult and love one who love him/her. But for a true Christian, we are to love everyone unconditionally just like He loved us unconditionally. We cannot love a person who insults us or mistreats us but when we seek to be filled with Christ love in us, It is possible to love that person. We choose to forgive them, pray for them and bless them and the bondage of hate will be broken.

P – Abba Father, The fleshly tendencies to fight back and repay evil for evil is so evident in a normal person. But I know that you have called us to be separate from this world. Enable me to overcome these fleshly tendencies and shine forth with your love. Fill me with your love to see everyone through your eyes and love them in spite of what they do to me.

In Jesus Powerful name I pray,

AMEN