mattzat1113

I am inclined to massage the word order of 1Peter 5:10-11. I need to affirm that it has been and will be - as long as I draw breath - the God of all grace who has sustained my life, blessed me, protected me during near-death experiences, called me to himself and to ministry in his church. Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin. Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled. Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss; grace that is greater, yes, grace untold, points to the refuge, the mighty cross. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to wash it away? Look! There is flowing a crimson tide, brighter than snow you may be today. Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed on all who believe! You that are longing to see His face, Will you this moment His grace receive?

Who but Peter would have sensed the urgency behind his instructions which parallel Jesus'! From a vessel for God's revelation of the charcter of Jesus to "Satan; from till death do us part to 3-time betrayal of knowing Jesus; asked to watch to deep in sleep. Paul differs from Peter primarily as a result of Paul's experiences: ... far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches." (2 Cor 11:23–28). Hence Paul in Ephesians 6:10-17 delineates his armour as well as his Armour Bearer. Knowing full well that 'what He's done for others He'll do for you - his beloved. Finally, who but Paul would know from experience - rather than from book-learning - "Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands (sufficient in himself) take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he (God) will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he (God) will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." (1 Cor 10:12–13).

What is it important to be aware of Satan's existence? What does this verse teach us about the devil? Why is this teaching important? Be sober-minded [ the concept of an adversary - the devil, satan is not a joke!] The erosion of one's faith - irrespective of its age and depth - can be a 'failure to meet together' i.e. worship/fellowship with believers; or, "... all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world"; or walking 'in the counsel of the wicked,' standing 'in the way of sinners,' sitting in 'the seat of scoffers' Or, "You adulterous (i.e. double-minded, luke-warm, unstable) people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:4–10)

God created us with many characteristics that enable us to be aware of and beware of situations, circumstances and individuals. They are all about self-preservation in the midst of a world that does not share that concern about us. The role of a servant/disciple is radically different from self-preservation! Jesus made quite clear the cost of our discipleship; our call to discipleship; the fruit from our discipleship and his constant presence and provisions in the midst of our discipleship. Being in my 70s my Christian faith, life and service has a sure foundation in the knowledge of the Bible, my walk with Christ, the direction and power of the Holy Spirit, worship and fellowship with Christian believers, prayer and the hymns of the Christian Faith. One such hymn is: Why should I be anxious? I have such a Friend, who bears in His heart all my woe. This friend is the Savior; on Him I depend; His love is eternal, I know. Though I am unworthy He chose even me, by grace in His kingdom to dwell; that grace so abundant my refuge will be - Thy goodness, O God, I would tell. His mercy I know is sufficient for me, And therein my soul finds its peace. He chastens with love, ever patient is He, my joys through His blessing increase. Each day He is near me, He walks by my side, His strength never fails, as does mine. In glory with Him, I at last shall abide, for that is His promise divine. The power of hell holds no terror for me; my stronghold is Israel’s God. In trial and sorrow my refuge is He, O, Savior, Thy mercy I laud! Thus onward I go to that wonderful land, that beautiful home of the blest. Though storms rage in fury, I'm safe in His hand, I'll enter the haven of rest. [Frykman, Nils. Why Should I Be Anxious? (Hymn 366). In The Hymnal of The Evangelical Covenant Church of America Chicago: Covenant Press, 1950]

With Jesus, Peter, Paul, there were marketplace - face to face - meetings of people and ideas. A major aspect of USA persecution is ideological: pro-life, Bible thumper, Evangelical, anti-LGBTQ. Without a hearing. It is quite parallel with Christians having killed Jewish babies and drinking their blood during the Eucharist. How fortunate it is to be able to let the Holy Spirit give us the words to speak rather than to engage others on the basis of: 'Let me tell you what I think!'

Christ's sufferings - paying the cost for being faithful to the leading of God in his life - like the list of St. Paul's suffering, is completely foreign to me. I have been misunderstood, criticized, lied about, betrayed and yet I count it as nothing (which it is) - a momentary affliction. I press on.

This is not a criticism about the question it is a statement about being alive: This is a non sequitur! To be living is to be dying. E.V. Hill is said to have used a word repetitively - Temporary - as he held out his hands and went around the building/congregation. We are temporary and each day are embracing the temporary or embracing Christ - the eternal and our eternity with Christ. My favorite words on the subject: Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1–5)

Life begins with challenges and ends with challenges. That will be true regardless of if we live for the desires of the flesh; the desires of the eyes and pride of life (which is not from the Father but is from the world) or if we live for the Lord. Words often relegated to funerals - from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (note v. 13 especially): 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord,4 that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. Sadly, at a funeral, it's too late for the deceased and lost on the grieving. Encourage one another with these words is why we attend the Church of Jesus Christ - encourage one another to meet together - share our lives with Christian brothers and sisters and participate in evangelism. That way we and others will not live without hope AND not die without hope! Q.E.D.

The outward manifestation of the indwelling Spirit of God, the inner transformation achieved by the Word of God, and the power of God that is at work in his people through the expression of our thoughts, words and deeds. How can character help a Christian woman "WIN" and "HANG ON TO HER HUSBAND?" This question has implications that I find offensive and potentially accusatory!! Please, revise or remove this question so that it does not reflect worldly attitudes towards women and their responsibility to hang on to her husband. This can not be your intention and meaning!

Why WOMEN should try to look their best? An interesting question in a patriarchal society! Even more interesting in the light of Islamic-still patriarchal-dress code. USA-let it all hang out; Islamic-keep it all hidden. Many still embrace using a mask rather than becoming what they want to be. Paul was clear there are false things we need to remove and Christ-like characteristics we put on. As a child I learned: 'good, better, best will not let you rest until your good is better and your better best.' We are responsible stewards of what God has given us. How degrading it is to characterize women by numbers (1-10). How pathetic to keep praising little girls for being so pretty! Balance will be achieved when men, women, Christians, Christian churches recognize that men AND women are God's co-partners and STOP using isolated passages that deny that the gifts of the Spirits are given across gender differences.

Clearly, this was a problem from the beginning-before the 'apple incident'. It has been exacerbated by "the desires of the flesh; the desires of the eyes and pride of life" - the world in which we we are "in."

Christians are the salt, light, leaven through which misinformation about God, Jesus, the Church, the Bible, Christianity, Christians are challenged verbally and non-verbally by the things we do and do not do as well as the things we say and do not say.

Psalm 1 speaks of our friendship in and with the world: "the counsel of the wicked", "the way of sinners", "the seat of scoffers". Childhood song: be careful little eyes.. what you see,tongue ... what you say; hands ...what you touch; feet ... where you go. Our adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Actions & Attitudes: As Christians who one day will be like-Him, these are the days to have the mind of Christ, to recognize the glory that is ahead of us; to endure the cross (persecution, loss of worldly goods, suffering, execution, torture) without a mumbling word of any sort; to stand fast as we do the Lord's bidding.

Praise seems parochial here: i.e. lip-service vs heart-, soul-, strength- and mind-service. I suspect God might revise Psalm 90 from "bull" to "praise services" for a similar reason: "Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” I.e. offer praise through a sacrifice and perform your vows to the Most High.