King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, December 20, 2024
Chapters: The Book of I Peter
Message: Manifold Temptations
Hello My Friend,
I just realized that we are only five days from Christmas and half of my paycheck is already spent on bills and necessities and the temptation to start charging something somewhere is coming to mind, but since I do not want to add more debt I am going to refrain from doing that. With that said, I noticed that it is easier to fall into temptation when your mind is not at its best, and by temptation I mean, giving into those flesh habits. The longer you walk with Christ the more the Holy Spirit will keep you away from those sins that bring immoral sin, but those bad habits are hard to let go of, it is a reminder of how we get tempted in the first place, [James 1:13-14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.]
There are two kinds of temptation, one being enticed to sin, the other is a called divers temptations, which is testing of one’s faith. Now, sometimes this test comes from God and sometimes it is from Satan, which God allows. However, God already knows our faith so when He tempts us it is solely for our own learning as well as Satan’s. God, will never tempt us with anything that will lead us to sin, but if we are not in the right mind divers temptations can lead to sin. This is why we need to be on guard at all times and listen to the Holy Spirit when He is telling us to stay away from something. We must never give room for Satan.
[1 Peter 3:15-18 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:]
The Book of 1 Peter is the twenty-first book of the New Testament, the sixtieth book of the Bible, and contains five chapters. The author of this epistle (letter) is Peter and it was written to the Jewish exiles who were being persecuted for their Christian faith. The purpose of the letter was to warn them of the danger of persecution from those outside of the Church and how to handle those situations. What we are to learn from the book is that walking with Christ enables the Christian to find joy through suffer suffering as they patiently await the glory of God, [1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.]
Peter, while he was in Babylon, wrote this letter to all Christians who are scattered all over the world, but had Jewish believers in mind. Unlike other times when the persecution was coming the Church due to doctrinal issues, this was coming from outside. Peter, begins the letter by reminding them and all of us that we belong to Jesus and He is our hope that does not fade away.
[1 Peter 1:1-4 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,]
[begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ] In other words, they born are again, those who believe in the Gospel of Christ and accept Him as their Saviour are reborn spiritually with God’s Spirit, [John 3:7-8 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.]
Until we know Christ as our Saviour, we are strangers, but once we learn of and accept Him we too are begotten of that lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus. Peter, goes on to address the heaviness (discouragement) they were feeling, calling it a trial of their faith.
[1 Peter 1:6-9 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 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: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.]
[if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:] This goes beyond being persecuted, this is one trial after another, sometimes more than one, piling up on top of you and seems to be no reprieve in sight. In order to overcome these we need to be sober in mind, body, and spirit, which Peter explains.
[1 Peter 1:13-16,22-23 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.]
[gird up the loins of your mind,] Because believers are kept by the power of God through their faith in Christ unto salvation, there is a need to be strengthened in their faith by living a holy life day by day. We are responsible for the choices we make, and doing the right thing especially when we are dealing with manifold temptations is very hard sometimes, but we can overcome it through Christ, [Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.]
[love one another with a pure heart fervently:] [Fervently; Earnestly; eagerly; vehemently; with great warmth.] I am not going to lie, I am not a very warm person, if I see someone fall, I pick them up and tell them to move along. I have been through and seen enough that I keep my heart guarded and with good reason as anytime I opened it it did not end well. My husband tells me all the time that I have trust issues. With that said, God, has had a way of opening my heart and humbling me since I have been taking care of my mother and come to learn that as much as I fail God, thankfully, He has more grace than have failures. We are reminded by Peter that these trials are meant to help us grow into lively stones.
[1 Peter 2:1-5 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. 4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.]
[a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God,] [Stone; A gem; a precious stone.] No one ever thinks of a stone as being alive, but in this case this precious stone is our soul. Those who receive Christ as their Saviour are very precious to God, and while all souls really are precious to God, the ones who accept His Son are made alive in the Spirit though Him, who is our living stone, also known as our Rock, [1 Peter 2:7-8 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.]
In order to taste the grace of God we first need to come with the realization that we are a sinner and that the price for sin is death and hell. Once we do that we can appreciate Jesus dying in our place, and because our faith in Him does more than save our soul from hell, we also become a part of Him.
[1 Peter 2:9-11,13-14 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.]
[abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;] What are fleshly lusts that war against the soul? Well, spirits come in all forms. [Spirit; 1. Powers of mind distinct from the body. 2. A strong, pungent or stimulation liquor, usually obtained by distillation, as rum, brandy, gin, whiskey. 3. Temper; disposition of mind, habitual or temporary. 4. An immaterial intelligent being.]
While we do have actual evil spirits that lurk about, there are evil man made spirits that do as well. When these enter the body they alter our perception, thoughts, and influences as well. Anything that would be consumed, injected or inhaled constitutes as fleshly lusts that war against the soul.
[Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.]
[in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God:] Peter, is not saying that before anyone knows Christ as their Saviour that they are not a person, but until we acknowledge God we are not known to Him for who He is. However, once we do know Him, we are consecrated through our faith in Christ, and that means we are a holy people of God.
[that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers,] Yes, we do have wicked people in office for the sake of God not only getting His people right with Him, but He also does this to punish the wicked and He does not need to lift one finger to do it as they destroy themselves, [Ephesians 4:18-19 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.]
Just think about it, we could get by on the thread of salvation, never submitting to the Holy Spirit as He attempts to turn our minds and hearts away from our own flesh What exactly would that accomplish? A lot more pain and sorrow. However, when we take full advantage of our salvation by living our lives through Christ, we not only save ourselves from unnecessary suffering, we lead others to Christ as well. God, puts us exactly in the place and position that we need to be in so that we might reach others with the Gospel, and therefore, it is much better for us to suffer for well doing than evildoing.
[1 Peter 2:19-21,24-25 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.]
[should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.] Do you understand that no matter what we suffer through it is the suffering that Jesus bore on the cross for us that we are healed? Faithful or not, we have enough to deal with with censorship, false accusations, persecutions, and suffering for things we did not do. However, the faithful are better prepared when they gird their minds and are sober and just as Paul gives instruction on the roles of the husband and wife, Peter does also, but watch what he says.
[1 Peter 3:1-2,5,7 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.]
[giving honour unto the wife…that your prayers be not hindered.] [Honor; Any expression of respect or of high estimation by words or actions; Any particular virtue much valued; to treat with deference and submission.] So many people, including my husband, are quick to say that the wife needs to submit to her husband, but they seem to overlook the very important matter of the husband honoring the wife and wonder why their prayers are not being answered. I believe that a marriage or any relationship for that matter, has its place for subjection and that by giving honor to one another leads to not only honor given back, but God’s respect as well. Peter, goes on to suggest that very thing.
[1 Peter 3:8-9,12,17-18. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:]
[be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,] You see, when we are faithful to God, that does not mean we never sin again, it does mean that we are remorseful, and repentant of sin. And it also means that we have the presence of God with us at all times. When you know God is with you, that is all the hope you need that He will get your through every trial, even the ones that resulted in sin. While it is certainly better to obey God rather than seek forgiveness of sin all the time, that is what grace is for. Peter, reminds us of what our lives were like before Christ.
[1 Peter 4:3-7 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.]
[For the time past of our life may suffice us] While there really is no excuse for our behavior before we received Christ as our Saviour there is truly no excuse after we are saved. And Peter is not talking about our normal sin nature sins here, these are the ones that got us into more trouble than we care to admit.
[1 Peter 4:11-15 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.]
[when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also] What exactly is the glory that will be revealed? As Peter comes to the end of the letter he explains what it is, [1 Peter 5:6-10 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 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.]
[called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,] It truly is not a strange thing for us to have manifold temptations, but Christ’s glory shall be revealed through each and every one that we endure for the sake of leading others to Christ, [1 Corinthians 3:13-15 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14 If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [1 Peter 2:7-8 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, It is still amazing to me that with my past that You love me and made me one of Yours. Although I do not deserve this honor I am grateful and thankful for the sacrifice You made for me. There truly is joy unspeakable and full of glory when I am reminded that through my manifold temptations, the trial of my faith is more precious than gold, and when I do come out of it with You, Your glory shall be revealed. It is time I stop trying to handle my temptations on my own, hand them all over to you, and keep then there. Thank You, Lord for everything you have brought me through already, the lessons you taught me along the way, and the continuous blessings You give me as I put my trust in You, I pray this in Your name, Jesus, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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