Lost Spiritual Diaries

It seems that the rest of my Spiritual Diaries for 1 Peter chapter five are lost at this moment and right now I am not sure where they are and I don’t have time to finish these verses, but will make an effort to do so in the near future.  Not only are the SD’s missing from the end of 1 Peter, but also from the beginning of 2 Peter so it looks like I will have some work to do to write new ones, but that won’t happen this morning. 

Learning From the Master (1 Peter 5:1)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

4/4/2012 8:55:40 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Learning from the Master

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  1Peter 5:1

 

            Message of the verses:  As I read over the words that Dr. Wiersbe wrote in his commentary on the introduction to his eleventh chapter on the book of 1Peter I come away with a better understand of this very important section of Peter’s first book.  I have mentioned on many occasions that Warren Wiersbe puts the cookies on a shelf where you can reach them and he certainly did in this section.  He entitles this eleventh chapter of his commentary on 1Peter, which is called “Be Hopeful,” “How To Be A Good Shepherd,” and it covers the first four verses of 1Peter 5.  If his writings cover only four verses in a chapter of God’s Word, then there must be a lot of important things in those four verses, and the fact that Peter is writing about “Pastors” or “Shepherds” is a very important thing for all believers to learn about for most of us who are believes in Jesus Christ will be setting under the teaching of a Pastor and so we must know what God expects us to know about the Pastor’s role in the church.  Peter was an “Elder” and this is the same word as “Bishop.”  Elder refers to the maturity of the officer, and bishop to the responsibility of the office.  The word Pastor (and this word means shepherd) is another title for this same office as seen in Ephesians 4:11, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.”  Dr. Wiersbe writes “The elders were appointed to office (Acts 14:23), where the verb ‘ordain’ means ‘to appoint by the raising of hands’).  Apparently each congregation had the privilege of voting on qualified men.” 

 

            We have just been through the forth chapter of 1Peter and in that we learned that Peter was encouraging his readers to stand firm in the face of persecution, which would be coming in full force in about a year from the time that Peter wrote his first letter.  I am not saying that Peter knew about the timing of this difficult persecution, but he knew that persecution was happening to some extent to those who named the name of Jesus Christ.  Peter knew how important it was for his readers to have a qualified Pastor leading them for if judgment was to begin in God’s house then God’s house had better be in good order.  Having a qualified Pastor who was learning and growing in the Lord was essential if they were to get through this persecution in a way that would bring honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Dr. Wiersbe writes “Peter was concerned that the leadership in the local churches be at its best.  When the fiery trial would come, the believers in the assemblies would look to their elder for encouragement and direction.  What are the personal qualities that make for a successful pastor?”

 

            A Vital Personal Experience with Christ (1Peter 5:1):  “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.”

            We see in this verse that Peter calls himself a “fellow elder” and does not identify himself as an apostle here, but does say that he was a witness of the sufferings of Christ.  That word witness, according to Dr. Wiersbe, give us our English word “martyr.”  We usually think of the word martyr as one who has given his life for the cause of Jesus Christ, which is something that Peter did, but “basically, a ‘martyr’ is a witness who tells what he has seen and heard.”

            The next five paragraphs in this SD are from the pen of Warren Wiersbe, and I believe that it is important for setting the background for this important subject of the qualifications of a Pastor.

            “It is interesting to read 1 Peter 5 in the light of Peter’s personal experiences with Christ.  First Peter 5:1 takes us to Gethsemane and Calvary.  ‘The glory that shall be revealed’ reminds us of Peter’s experience with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1-5; 2 Peter 1:15-18).  The emphasis in 1Peter 5:2 on the shepherd and the sheep certainly brings to mind John 10 and our Lord’s admonition to Peter in John 21:15-17.

            “The warning in 1 Peter 5:3 about ‘lording it over’ the saints reminds us of Christ’s lesson about true greatness in Luke 22:24-30, as well as the other times that He taught His disciples about humility and service.  The phrase in 1 Peter 5:5, ‘Be clothed with humility,’ takes us back to the Upper Room where Jesus put on the towel and washed the disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17).

            “The warning about Satan in 1 Peter 5:8 parallels our Lord’s warning to Peter that Satan was going to ‘sift’ him and the other Apostles (Luke 22:31).  Peter did not heed that warning, and he ended up denying his Lord three times.

            “It is interesting to note that the verb ‘make you perfect’ (1 Peter 5:10) is translated ‘mending their nets’ in Matthew 4:21, the account of the call of the four fishermen into the Lord’s service.

            “In other words, Peter wrote these words, inspired by the Spirit of God, out of his own personal experience with Jesus Christ.  He had a vital and growing relationship with Christ, and this made it possible for him to minister effectively to God’s people.”

            The Apostle Paul wrote the following to Timothy to admonish him to continue to grow in his Christian walk with the Lord, “15  Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.”  (1Timothy 4:15)  Progress means in the original “pioneer advance.”  This show us that Elders must continue to look at new territories of study, they are not to teach the same thing week after week.  In order to do this they must be in tuned with God and His Word.

            At the end of his commentary on this verse Dr. Wiersbe writes “If I have any counsel for God’s shepherds today, it is this:  cultivate a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, and share what He gives you with your people.  That way, you will grow, and they will grow with you.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  A couple of week ago I began to take the Spiritual Diaries that I have written since 2001 and begin to put them into individual books according to the books of the Bible that I have studied.  I went to put my commentaries on 1Peter into book form and found out that I was missing the end of chapter four and all of chapter five so I then decided to complete these missing entries so that I could complete that commentary.  My plan for these SD that are put into book form is to give them to my children and grandchildren so that perhaps they too will begin a serious study of the Word of God.

            I believe that it was surely in the will of God for me to again study the book of 1Peter, especially this portion.  Our Pastor is going over this wonderful book and so I can receive a double blessing from studying it with him and on my own.

 

4/4/2012 10:14:30 AM

Commit yourself to God (1 Pet. 4:19)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

4/3/2012 9:52:07 AM

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Commit yourself to God

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  1Peter 4:19

 

            Message of the verse:  “19  Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”  (NASB-95)

 

            Commit Yourself to God (1Peter 4:19):  “19  So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.”  (NLT)  “19  Therefore these who suffer according to God’s will can safely commit their souls to their faithful Creator, and go on doing all the good they can.” (Philips) 19  For this reason let those who by the purpose of God undergo punishment, keep on in well-doing and put their souls into the safe hands of their Maker.”  (BBE)  “19  Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (ESV)

 

            In the Philips paraphrase version of the Bible, which is seen above, the word “commit” is used, while the NASB says “entrust” and so does the ESV.  This word can be used as a banking term where one puts their funds into a bank and receives interest for those funds.  In the same way we as believers when we suffer for the cause of Christ can put ourselves into God’s bank and we will always receive eternal dividends on our investment.

            In the US we have the FDIC that is suppose to bring us great comfort when we deposit our funds into a US bank, for if the bank goes under the funds are insured.  However when we belong to God who loves us, who has purchased us, and who lives in us and promised to one day take us to heaven we can totally put our faith and trust in Him, and we can commit our lives to Him even though we suffer for the cause of Christ, for we know that God is faithful.

            Dr. Wiersbe writes “this commitment is not a single action but a constant attitude.  ‘Be constantly committing’ is the force of the admonition.  How do we do this?  ‘By means of welldoing.’ As we return good for evil and do good even though we suffer for it, we are committing ourselves to God so that He can care for us.  This commitment involves every area of our lives and every hour of our lives.” 

            It may sound strange to some that Peter calls God “a faithful Creator” and not a faithful Judge, which of course He is.  Peter knew that it was the Creator who provided food and clothing to those persecuted Christians, and it was the faithful Creator who protects them in times of danger. 

            Dr. Wiersbe finishes his commentary with the following paragraph:  “Before God pours out His wrath on this evil world, a ‘fiery trial’ will come to God’s church, to unite and purify it, that it might be a strong witness to the lost.  There is nothing for us to fear if we are suffering in the will of God.  Our faithful Father-Creator will victoriously see us through!”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  When Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi he told them in verse 4:11b that he had learned to be content and we can see from his second letter to the Corinthian church in chapter eleven that it was through persecution that he had learned to be content.  This is what Peter is telling his readers who were about to go through some difficult persecutions because it would be about a year after his readers received this letter that Rome would burn and Nero would blame it on the Christians and so the persecution would begin and it would be very difficult.  There is a story in the 32^nd chapter of Jeremiah which helps us to understand how our faith should not waver even when persecution comes.  Jeremiah was in prison and the Babylonians were attacking Jerusalem, about to destroy it, when his cousin comes to sell him a piece of property and because it was of the Lord Jeremiah bought the property because God told him that the children of Israel would return and build houses once again.  It took faith to do this and it takes great faith to endure persecution, but God is in control and one day He will judge all who have caused the troubles in the world.

 

4/3/2012 3:24:05 PM  

Examine Your Life (1 Peter 4:15-18)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR

4/2/2012 3:34:51 PM

 

            As I was looking at my Spiritual Diaries for the books of first and second Peter I noticed that some of them were missing and so I have decided to finish the book of First Peter and then fill in what is missing in Second Peter.  This is the first of those Spiritual Diaries.

 

            Let me begin with stating that Warren Wiersbe’s commentary on 1Peter is entitled “Be Hopeful, and in the introduction to the tenth chapter in his commentary, which he entitles “Facts About Furnaces and it covers 1Peter 4:12-19, he states the following in the introduction:  “Peter gave the believers four instructions to follow in the light of the coming ‘fiery trial.”  The first trial was covered in previous SD’s which was entitled “Expect suffering” and then the next main point was entitled “Rejoice in Suffering.”  This SD will begin with the next main point from Dr. Wiersbe’s outline which is entitled “Examine Your Life.”

 

            Examine Your Life (1Peter 4:15-18):  “15  Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16  but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 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? 18  AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?”

 

            We must remember that Dr. Wiersbe entitled this chapter “Facts about Furnaces,” and being an old foundry man for 35 years I do know a bit about furnaces too, so that will make it easier for me to understand this section better.  I remember that Dr. Wiersbe has said that when we are in a fiery trial that it is God who controls the thermostat.  We will see in this section that it talks about judgment and Peter writes that judgment begins with the household of God.  In the 9^th chapter of the book of Ezekiel we can see an OT version of judgment beginning with the household of God.  It is a short chapter of only ten verses that helps us understand better what Peter is writing about.

            Steve Green is a wonderful singer of Christian music and one of his songs is entitled “The Refiners Fire and at this time I wish to put those lyrics on this SD.

 

There burns a fire with sacred heat

 White hot with holy flame

 And all who dare pass through its blaze

 Will not emerge the same

 Some as bronze, and some as silver

 Some as gold, then with great skill

 All are hammered by their sufferings

 On the anvil of His will

 

Chorus:

 The Refiner's fire

 Has now become my souls desire

 Purged and cleansed and purified

 That the Lord be glorified

 He is consuming my soul

 Refining me, making me whole

 No matter what I may lose

 I choose the Refiner's fire

 

I'm learning now to trust His touch

 To crave the fire's embrace

 For though my past with sin was etched

 His mercies did erase

 Each time His purging cleanses deeper

 I'm not sure that I'll survive

 Yet the strength in growing weaker

 Keeps my hungry soul alive

 

Chorus

 

            Why am I suffering? (v. 15): 15 “Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;”  We can look at some of the more prolific saints in the Word of God and see that they suffered because of disobedience to the Word of God.  Moses did not enter the Promised Land because of disobedience.  David lost four sons because of disobedience.  Peter was miserable because He denied the Lord.  Dr. Wiersbe writes “Let’s be sure we are suffering because we are Christians and not because we are criminals.”

 

            Am I ashamed, or glorifying Christ?  (v. 16):  “16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”  Not being ashamed is something that is negative, while glorifying God is a positive.  Hebrews 11:16 states, “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”  “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren (Hebrews 2:11).”  Hebrews 12:2 states, “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

            Dr. Wiersbe writes “It was the determination not to be ashamed that encouraged Paul when he went to Rome (Rom. 1:16), when he suffered in Rome (Phil. 1:20-21), and when he faced martyrdom in Rome (2Tim. 1:12).”

 

            Am I seeking to win the Lost (vv. 17-18):  “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? 18  AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?” 

            I think that it is wonderful how Dr. Wiersbe brings in witnessing from these two verses, for when one first reads them witnessing does not seem to be what Peter is talking about.  Dr. Wiersbe writes that “Instead of being concerned only about ourselves, we need to be concerned about the lost sinners around us.  Our present ‘fiery trial’ is nothing compared with the ‘flaming fire’ that shall punish the lost when Jesus returns in judgment.”  Now let’s take a look at what will happen when the Lord returns from the writing of the Apostle Paul as he writes to those in Thessalonica in 2Thes. 1:4-10, “4  therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

    “5 ¶  This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 6  For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7  and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8  dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 9  These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10  when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed-for our testimony to you was believed.”

            John MacArthur writes the following from his Study Bible on verse 18:  “Quoted from the LXX of Proverbs 11:31, and reinforces the point that if the justified sinner is saved only with great difficulty, suffering pain, and loss—what will be the end of the ungodly?”  The end of the ungodly is described in the verses in 2Thes.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It was just last night in our church service that the guest Pastor was preaching on verses in Hebrews 12:1-3 and then in 1Peter 4.  One of the things that stuck into my mind from his message was not being ashamed of Christ for in Hebrews 12:2 it tells us that Jesus despised the shame and as he was talking about that section of the verse it was as if I had not seen that before, but I know that I have.  He went on to talk about as believers; we are not to despise the shame when doing something for the Lord.  I took out of that, that we should not be ashamed in doing the work of God.

            Today while visiting my sick mom in the hospital, as I was leaving I saw an older man with his head bowed and his mouth moving in what looked like he was praying.  He was sitting outside a room with the curtain closed and my first instinct was to stop and put my arm around him and as if I could join him in prayer.  I did not do this and it bothered me all of the way home.  I did pray for him and the situation that he was in, but I was too ashamed or frightened to stop and I know I should have.

 

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Not to be ashamed of Jesus Christ or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Continue to learn contentment in a world that seems to be falling apart.

 

4/2/2012 4:49:32 PM

 

The Shekineh Glory (1 Peter 4:14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 02-11-04

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus: The Shekineh Glory

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  1Peter 4:14

 

            Message of the verse:  “14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.”  (NASB95)  “14 Be happy if you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God will come upon you.”  “14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.”  (NKJV)

            The NASB does not include the last portion of this verse, but the NKJV does include it and that is why I included it.  Peter is saying in this verse that if we suffer for the cause of Christ then the glory of God will rest upon us.  The Shekinah glory was the glory of the Lord that filled the Tabernacle and then the Jewish Temple.  This glory fell upon the mountain where Moses spoke to God, and it is this glory that will be given to the believers who suffer for the cause of Christ.  Stephen saw this glory when he was being stoned for the cause of Christ. 

            When a believer suffers for the cause of Christ he brings glory to the name of Jesus Christ, but the one who is doing the persecution is blaspheming the name of the Lord.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today: This section assures me that God is in control of all things, and that He does not need my help, but my obedience to what He is leading me to do.  I know that there are times when I get in the way of God and what He is doing, and this shows my lack of patience.  Just as God will give us a glimpse of His Glory when we suffer for Him, and will do it in the exact time needed, so God will always give us what we need each day of our lives.

 

The Word of God has been challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Trust in the Lord with all my heart and don’t lean upon my own understanding, in all my ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct my path.

Rejoice in Sufferings (1 Peter 4:13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 02-10-04

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Rejoice in sufferings

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Peter 4:13

 

            Message of the verse:  “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.”  (NASB95)  “13 Instead, be very glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterward you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory when it is displayed to all the world.”  (NLT)

            The truth of this verse is hard for believers to understand, but it is impossible for those who are not believers to understand.  Why should believers rejoice in their sufferings?  Peter gives a number of reasons, and also we can see Jesus Christ as our example who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.

            First our suffering means fellowship with Christ.  “For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,”  “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;”  (Phil. 1:29, & 3:10)  (Acts 5:41)  “So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”  Dr. Wiersbe says that “not every believer grows to the point where God can trust him with this kind of experience, so we ought to rejoice when the privilege comes to us.”

            Believers can take courage in the fact that God is with us as we go through these trials.  Isaiah 41:10, & 42:2 give us comfort:  “10 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”  “2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.”

            The second thing we can see is that our suffering means glory in the future.  Peter has written about sufferings and glory throughout this letter.  The world believes that the absence of suffering means glory, but a Christian’s outlook is different.  As believers go through trials today we can be assured they will be turned into glory when Christ returns.  1Peter 1:7-8 “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,”

            God does not replace suffering with glory, but He will transform suffering into glory, and Jesus gave the illustration of a woman giving birth in John 16:20-22 to show this truth.  “20  "Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.  21  "Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world.  22 “Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The Bible says that we as believers are to be conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, and as I have studied this passage I am beginning to see that one of the ways that God will do this is through the fellowship of sufferings with Christ.  The sufferings of Jesus Christ were turned into joy, and this is something that is difficult to understand, but the Bible says is true.  There is a fellowship that is in suffering.  I am not saying that I have gone through great sufferings for the cause of Christ, however He has seen fit to send a couple of trials my way, and thought them I am beginning to understand more about the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings as written about in Philippians 3:10.

Trials Will Come (1 Peter 4:12)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 02-09-04

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Trails will come

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  1Peter 4:12

 

            Message of the verse:  “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;”  (NASB95)  “12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.”  (NLT)

            Trials will come upon believers because we are in a war with the unbelieving world.  People can get away with being “religious,” but not with being righteous.  When I use the word religious, I am speaking of coming to God on your own terms, or the terms of a false teaching, and not the true way of coming to God through Jesus Christ alone.  Cain was a religious man, but Able was a righteous man, and that is why Cain killed him.

            Peter writes in this verse that fiery trials will come upon those who are righteous, not if they come.  He also says that they will come for our testings, so that means that God is in control of these testings, and if we submit to Him in these trials He will work them out for our good and His glory. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  These trials that come upon my family and me have all been due to sin in believers lives, for they have not been due to being persecuted because of being righteous, like what Peter is writing about here.  With that said, they are still trials that God has brought into my life and my families to make us better.

 

The Word of God was challenging to my heart as I read it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord with the events that took place yesterday.  To thank Him and praise Him for answering our prayers, and to trust Him to use us to do the work of Grace Baptist Church that He will guide us to do for His glory.