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

1 Peter 2:15-17 - Submission to Authority

 

S- 1 Peter 2:15-17

For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover up for evil; live as God’s slaves. Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.

O – 1. By doing good you can silence ignorant people.

2. Live as free people – do not misuse the freedom.

3. Live as God’s slaves.

4. Show proper respect to all

A – Today’s verse teaches on submission to human authority. We sometimes fall into conclusion that since we are under God’s authority, we do not need to submit to any authorities on earth. But God has placed people in authority over us so as to maintain law and order. In this way we need to respect them and submit to their authority. We are people who are free in Christ but this does not allow us to cover up the sins we want to do. We need to be God’s slaves. A good slave submits to his master, obeys his instructions and is dedicated to serving him. This is the same attitude we need to have for God. I need to have proper respect for everyone, other believers and the ones in authority. Our lives should do the talking instead of us. This way we can silence the ignorant people. We need to win people over by our life, attitude, and behavior. The Christ in us should be revealed to others through how we deal with others. I like the quote of Willian J toms “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”

P – Father Lord, Thank you for teaching me today about the importance of submission. Enable me to submit to authorities you have placed in my life. I want to respect them all not considering whether they are good or bad or to me. Enable me to live a good life which will please you and the authorities so that I may be found right. Help me to pray for the ones in authority and seek your blessings on them.  Let me be able to witness you wherever I go and give you all glory.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray

AMEN.

 

 

1 Peter 2:1, 4-5 BUILT INTO SPIRITUAL HOUSES

S - 1 PETER 2:1 - Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind

1 Peter 2:4,5 - As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— ⁵ you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house^[a] to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

O – 1.Rid ourselves of malice, hypocrisy, slander etc

2.   Just as Christ is the living stone, we too are being built into spiritual house offering acceptable sacrifices to the Lord.

A – Jesus is the living stone but the people rejected him. He was so precious to and was chosen by God. Once we accept him as our savior we too become living stones with Christ as our foundation. We can grow up and be built up only through the pure milk of God’s word. I like the comparison of a baby craving for milk. Newborn Babies crave and cry for spiritual milk as if their life depends on it. This is the same approach I need to have for the word of God. I need to Hear, Read, Study, Memorize and Meditate on the God’s word. In this way I will be deeply rooted in the word so that I can rid myself of all evil like deceit, hypocrisy, envy etc. I can transform into the Lord’s image only once I submit to the Holy Spirit to teach me the Word and help me apply it into my life.

P – Abba Father, Thank you for reminding me of how precious the word of God is. Enable me to faithfully engage myself in the Word and apply it to my life. I want to love other unconditionally just like how you did. Enable me to overcome the fleshly tendencies to gossip, envy others, talk evil etc. Cleanse me with the precious spiritual milk i.e your word and enable me to trust and obey your teachings.

I pray also for each of the precious sisters in this group. Lord, Enable them meditate on your word and hear your voice. I submit all the desires of their heart into your hands. We pray for the ones preparing for their exam, engaged in research, looking out for a good job etc. We submit it all into your hands and we are not worried since you are with us through it all and in perfect control.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray

AMEN

1 PTER 1:13,15 BE HOLY BECAUSE HE IS HOLY

S – Therefore with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. But Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do for it is written: “Be Holy, because I am Holy”

O - We should look forward to the 2^nd coming of Christ with hope. Our minds should be alert and directed towards it. The evil desires of the flesh should not take this focus away. We have been born again and the spirit dwells in us. We are guided by the spirit and He convicts us when we tread in the wrong paths. We need to be alert to this guidance and should not backslide to the position we were in when we were ignorant of the truth. We cannot live a holy life by ourselves. This would make us Self-righteous, instead we have been provide a wonderful counselor, The Holy Spirit to guide us. We are guided by the spirit to trust and obey the Lord and in this way transform into His image which is Holy.

A – Many a times I have tried to be holy and tried to make myself right. I realized that I am so weak and cannot control many of my bad habits. So many thoughts come to mind and I want to react and say something to prove my point and I end up failing. These verses remind me that I have been called to be holy, but am I alone in this battle? No. I have the Holy Spirit in me to lead me and correct me. When the enemy brings negative and provoking thoughts I need to submit myself to be lead by the Holy Spirit and cancel all the lies of the Satan in the name of Jesus. I choose to obey the Holy Spirit and let go off all my fleshly tendencies. The immaterial matters on this earth are worthless compared to the grace that is going to be revealed in the 2^nd coming.

P – Precious Father, as I transform to your image, Enable me to let go of all my fleshly desires. Enable me to die to myself and submit myself to you completely. I don’t want to conform to the pattern of this world father, but live a worthy life as your daughter. To remind me at all times that I am the daughter of the King of Kings.

In Jesus’ precious name I pray

AMEN

1 PETER 1:17,21 - PURCHASED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF THE LAMB

S -  1 Peter 1:17,21

¹⁷ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear

²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

O – Impartial God, We are foreigners in this world, Through Christ we have faith and hope in God.

A – Today’s verses teach me how precious I am. There are many phases in my life when I ask myself “Why can’t I do this? Why can’t I be a better mom? Why can’t I be a better wife?” I tend to look down on myself. These verses are so powerful and I can hear God’s voice say “My Child you are so precious to me, I bought you with the blood of my son who is blameless and perfect. And so In Him you too are perfect”

      We are disciplined by the father and we will be judged for what we do with the life that he has provided us, so we need to live a life of reverential fear. This is not the fear of a slave of his master but a reverential fear of a child to his/her father. Peter reminds us that we are just foreigners on this earth. Heaven is our home and while we are here let us live out a life which reflects the Christ in us. Let me not take for granted the salvation that is given to me by His grace. I can place my hope in God only through the precious blood of Christ. We stand worthy in His presence only because of what Christ has done for us. So I want to live a life that would make Him proud of me and it is not worth to waste on worldly pleasures, sinful desires and disobedience in this world.  

 P – Father Lord, I feel so precious because of what you did for me. You were so blameless and sinless yet you laid down your life for a sinner like me. I can never look down or feel ashamed of myself because what I am today is because of your mercy. Enable me to transform into your image. Help me to share your love to anyone and everyone I meet. Enable me to overcome the fleshly tendencies and engross myself in your love. I want you to be proud of me when I meet you. All my weaknesses I submit to you. Help me overcome them with your strength and spread the good news to many more people.

In Jesus matchless name I pray

AMEN.

1 Peter 1:6-7 GENUINENESS OF FAITH

S  - 1 Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

O -Rejoice in the eternal inheritance

 

Overlook the trails and test for a little while in this world

Fire refines gold – same way trials refines faith

Trails and tests glorify God when we stand strong on the hope the Lord provides.

 

A - Today’s verses provides me with the courage and confidence to withstand any trials that may come my way. I understand that these are only testing phases that seek the genuineness of my faith and it is only to refine my faith. The glory and honour to the Lord will result when we stand strong in our faith. I am unable to see Christ now but I believe in Him and love Him. This put a glorious joy and peace in my heart. This joy is based on the end result of my faith – Salvation of my soul.

P – Father Lord, I praise your precious name. I thank you for the promises that you are giving me through these verses. Help me to stand strong in your faith and not to let any trials or tests distract me. Enable me to empty all the impurities in me so that I can filled with more of you.  Bless me to lean on to you in all situations and not on my knowledge or on anything in this world. Enable me to prove the genuineness of the faith I have in you and stand as a witness for you.

In Jesus powerful name I Pray

 

Amen

1 Peter 1:3-4 LIVING HOPE AND ETERNAL INHERITANCE

S – 1 Peter 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you.

O – Through His resurrection Christ gave us:
New birth into a living hope
Inheritance that can never perish

A –  Through the resurrection of Christ, we have a living hope and an inheritance in heaven. We as believers should not place our hope on anything immaterial. Many a times, I place my hope on my Family, Job and self Efforts. But the Lord has given me an eternal hope and this will never fail me. Whatever happens in this life on earth should not overly affect or upset me as my hope is placed on the Lord.

P – Abba Father, Thank you for this hope that I have in you. Enable me to always be reminded of this hope that I have in you and not to put my hope on anything perishable in this life. Let me at all times be grateful for this living hope and the inheritance that awaits me in heaven. In Jesus’ precious name I pray, AMEN

New Study on 1&2 Peter

I am starting the new study on www.lovegodgreatly.com blog. If you want to join me and my group, I can add you to my FB group. Please comment below: