Making a Differencewith Pastor Phil Erickson

Dec 23rd Established

Today’s Passage – 1 Peter 1 – 5 (Click on the references to listen to the audio – click here to view the text from the Blue Letter Bible website)

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 111 – 115; Proverbs 23)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture Song – Matthew 6:33

Read the “1223 Evening and Morning“ devotion for today, by the late Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Read a previous post from this morning’s reading passage – “Suffering“

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;” (Romans 1:11)

“Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” (2 Peter 1:12)

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” (Ephesians 4:13-15)

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

The word “stablish” or establish has been coming up a lot lately in my studies. Recently, I was closely examining Paul’s Letter to the Romans, and I observed in chapter one that Paul wanted to see the saints at Rome established in their faith. The word “stablish” (στηρίζω – stērizō) means to be to to be settled, fixed, not easily moved. I learned from Romans that God wanted to use Paul to establish the saints in Rome in order to make sure that they were grounded in the faith. Ephesians 4 also tells us that God has given us pastors and teachers so that we can learn sound doctrine, which will help us to mature in the faith and cause us not be easily swayed into doctrinal error.

Here in 1 Peter 5, we learn that God also uses suffering to stablish us. Notice in verse 10, God chooses 4 words, which have a very similar meaning: perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle. These words all support the same conclusion that God wants us to grow up, to mature, and to be able to stand up to the harsh winds of adversity. It seems that the Christianity of this present day that we live in are very weak and unsettled. People fall away from the faith very easily, and are also lured just as easily into false teaching. There are probably many reasons for this, at the top of the list being the fact that our churches have removed Bible preaching and teaching from the place of preeminence that it once held. But, I also believe that it is because there is very little suffering in this day that we live in. We live in a pleasure soaked society. The Christians of the first century suffered, and had to stand boldly against incredible and cruel persecution, but it caused them to be tough, settled, and stablished.

I am not sure exactly where this thought is leading. I am not asking that God allow us to go through the persecution that are brothers and sisters went through in years past, but I do know that we need to grow up, to be established in the faith. I guess my prayer is that God will do whatever He has to in order to achieve that end in our lives for His glory.

Dec 23rd Are We Suffering Today?

Today’s Passages – 1 Peter 1 – 5; Proverbs 23

(Second Milers also read – Psalms 111 – 115; Memorize – Luke 2:11)

Listen to this morning’s Scripture song – 1 Timothy 1:17

Read “Think Down” by Dr, Paul Chappell

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:6 & 7)

As I was reading today this entire first letter from Peter, I could not help but notice all of the references to suffering. It seems that the Christians in the first-century, Roman Empire were indeed put to the test often due to their allegiance to Jesus Christ. Look back in the text and notice the following verses:

“But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;” (1 Peter 3:14)

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:” (1 Peter 4:12)

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10)

In fact, the word “suffer” appears 11 times in 1 Peter. These folks certainly knew what it was like to bear the cross of the Lord Jesus. There are people today in other parts of the world who also are well acquainted with suffering for the Lord. They know what it is like to be persecuted, and in some cases prosecuted, simply for living their Christian faith.

In America, however, there is very little suffering being experienced by believers. We live in a land of freedom. We can still worship the Lord without fear of reprisal. We know little of “counting the cost” in our relationship with God. We are well fed; we are warm in the winter and cool in the summer; we sit on cushioned seats; we have it made. Yet, if you were to carefully examine the hearts and attitudes of many believers today, you would find that they really do not fully appreciate the freedom and luxury that they have. They don’t recognize the wonderful place of liberty that God has given us here in the good ole U.S. of A. This is not to say that they haven’t experienced other forms of suffering, such as illnesses, etc.; but I am merely trying to point out that they are not suffering at the hands of their neighbors, or the government for worshipping Christ. Maybe, its because we are very carnal here in America. Paul says in 2 Timothy 3 that all that live godly shall suffer persecution. Maybe we are not as godly as those first century Christians.

There is something that Peter wrote in this epistle that I think we can all identify with, however:

“Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” (1 Peter 2:11)

Though I do not know any Christians here in our land that are being tortured for their faith, I do know of many that are in torment because of the battle going on in their flesh. I know that my flesh is my number one enemy. I can certainly identify with the Apostle Paul when he said that the things that he does not want to do, he does, and vice versa. Maybe that is why Satan isn’t attacking us with the frontal assault of persecution. He doesn’t have to because we are still losing the battle in our flesh and our lusts are keeping us from having the effectiveness and impact in the world that we could be having.  See the list of the “works of the flesh” in Galatians 5:19 – 21 if you don’t know what I am referring to. But maybe, if we really started walking in the Spirit, and putting to death the lusts that are reeking havoc in our lives, then we just might get the wicked one’s attention. Don’t misunderstand, I am not inviting, nor looking forward to suffering at the hands of the devil or the world; but I am looking forward to living a “Spirit-filled life” that is worthy of their attention.