Bible Study (4) - The Endurance of Hope - 1 Peter 3:8-17 - June 28, 2020

Bible Study (4) – The Endurance of Hope – June 28, 2020

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Living with Hope in a Broken World.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Peter 3:8-17.

We can endure suffering because of our hope in CHRIST.

The endurance of hope is the key word e.g. keeping on when there is nothing to keep a Christian pressing on when all that is detectible cannot be seen with the human eye or understanding. How and why? It is because a Christian’s faith and hope are in JESUS and nothing this world has to offer. It is pressing forward when there is nothing physically visible. From a human point of view, it is impossible but from a faith point of view all things are possible. How? It is because GOD does it. Let your actions of faith match or exceed your revealed faith! This is a tall order from a human perspective but from a faith perspective, it results in a much different outcome. Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Peter 3:8-12:

Do No Evil

⁸ Finally, all of you be like-minded and sympathetic, love one another, and be compassionate and humble,^[b] 9 not paying back evil for evil or insult for insult but, on the contrary, giving a blessing, since you were called for this, so that you may inherit a blessing.

In essence, the Apostle Peter, was telling his Christian readers and brothers and sisters in CHRIST that it was vital that they live by what they were being taught and believe. They were to consider others and look at the issues they face in life through their eyes and circumstances.

Christians are to be empathetic or like-minded with their fellow earth dwellers but more importantly to respond to the needs of others as JESUS. Thus, have the same mindset as JESUS e.g. respond as led by the urging of the Holy Spirit. One might say, “well, there are so many needs?” Yes, and it is GOD WHO meets those needs. Consider various scripture regarding how GOD multiplies human limitations:

Psalm 35:13:

But as for me, when they were sick,
My clothing was sackcloth;
I humbled myself with fasting;
And my prayer would return to my own ^[e]heart.

As we minister to others, we in turn are ministered to.

Acts 10:38:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

The same power that JESUS had upon earth, Spiritually born Christians also have that same power upon earth.

2 Corinthians 1:21:

²¹ Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God,

Spiritually born Christians are anointed by GOD. GOD multiplies what HE leads HIS Spiritually born children to do. JESUS taught HIS disciples as we read in Luke 9:1-6:

9 Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. ² Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

³ “Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “no staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. ⁵ If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶ So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

Then later in ministry the disciples encountered another huge issue as we read in Luke 9:10-14:

Feeding of the Five Thousand

¹⁰ When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus all that they had done. He took them along and withdrew privately to a^[a] town called Bethsaida. ¹¹ When the crowds found out, they followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed healing.

¹² Late in the day, the Twelve approached and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.”

¹³ “You give them something to eat,” he told them.

“We have no more than five loaves and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴ (For about five thousand men were there.)

Then he told his disciples, “Have them sit down^[b] in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵ They did what he said, and had them all sit down. ¹⁶ Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke them. He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷ Everyone ate and was filled. They picked up twelve baskets of leftover pieces.

Were these miracles just for JESUS’ disciples then or for all HIS Disciples until HE returns? Were the disciples of JESUS more Spiritually born than HIS disciples in the present age? I contend NO!

Spiritually born Christians in the present, somehow believe that they do not have the power that JESUS had when HE walked upon earth. What a shame for the people of earth. FATHER, forgive us and show us that YOUR power is just as available to YOUR Spiritually born Children today as it was when YOU walked upon earth. It is just as powerful and it is wonder working power!

So, what are we tempted to do? Do we test GOD by saying, “FATHER, do this or do that?” That is exactly what Satan wants us to do. When GOD reveals the need, then respond to the need as HE prompts you to respond. In feeding the five thousand, JESUS wanted HIS disciples to see what they had available e.g. five loaves and two fish. In the hands of GOD that was more than enough. Okay, there were enough material provisions, what was next? JESUS told the disciples to have the people to sit in groups of fifty, so they could be fed. JESUS blessed the food and asked the disciples to distribute it. All were filled and there were twelve baskets full left-over. Yes, miracles still happen everyday upon earth. When Christians pray in faith for the needs of the world, GOD responds. 

Satan stands ready to make you think, “nothing took place.” Don’t accept a lie. Rejoice when that happens. Why? When Satan opposes, you know you are headed in the right direction.

The scriptures copied below are some examples of how GOD used various ways to accomplish meeting the needs of people:

Acts 5:15:

¹⁵ so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.

Acts 19:11-20:

¹¹ Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. ¹³ Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ^[a]“We ^[b]exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” ¹⁴ Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

¹⁵ And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

¹⁶ Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, ^[c]overpowered them, and prevailed against ^[d]them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. ¹⁸ And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. ¹⁹ Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.

The power of GOD is not for sale, it is freely given to those Spiritually born from GOD and to be used as HE directs. Is this power available today? ABSOLUTELY!!! Divine healing is a Spiritual gift today but self-ordained divine healers are not from GOD. Bottomline, GOD can use whatever HE deems necessary to minister to others. Has that time arrived? Are we who know the truth, willing to say, FATHER, here we are, as YOUR Children, use us to minister to a world that is hurting?

How do we begin -----

¹⁰ For the one who wants to love life
and to see good days,
let him keep his tongue from evil
and his lips from speaking deceit,
¹¹ and let him turn away from evil
and do what is good.
Let him seek peace and pursue it,
¹² because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are open to their prayer.
But the face of the Lord is against
those who do what is evil.

GOD is with us, are we with HIM and ready for action?

Undeserved Suffering

Let’s read 1 Peter 3:13-14:

¹³ Who then will harm you if you are devoted to what is good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them^[c] or be intimidated,^[d] 

When Spiritually born people step up to the plate, may we do so with the absolute assurance that we have nothing to fear. Yes, we may run into issues but we are to press on because GOD will bless us as we move forward. GOD’S Word reveals in 2 Timothy 2:7:

⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

In first John 4:1-6:

4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

² This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not confess Jesus^[a] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.

⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world. Therefore, what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.

WHO has conquered the evil spirits? “Because the ONE (JESUS) Who is in you (JESUS) is greater than the one who is in the world (Satan). The victory has already been won by JESUS.

Let’s read 1 Peter 3:15-17:

¹⁵ but in your hearts regard^[e] Christ^[f] the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. ¹⁶ Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused,^[g] those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

Spiritually born Christians are to utterly rely upon the indwelling Holy Spirit to come to their aid 24/7.

Suffering can run at least two-ways – suffering for doing good or suffering for doing bad, either way GOD is with Christians.

GOD always has our back side. Roman 8:28:

²⁸ We know that all things work together^[k] for the good^[l] of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 

GOD is in all things bringing about the best that come from the issues we face in life, as HIS Children or children to become.

Blessings!!!

Bible Study - Hope (3) - The Testimony of Our Hope - 1 Peter 2:4-15 - June 21, 2020

Bible Study – Hope (3) – The Testimony of Our Hope – June 21, 2020

This is lesson three in our series entitled “Living with Hope in a Broken World.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Peter 2:4-15.

Our hope in CHRIST points others to HIM.

We, as Christians, go to church, Bible Studies, conferences, teach GOD’S Word but do we apply what we know? If not, why not? Let’s explore!

A Christian’s testimony is one of the most powerful tools in GOD’S war chest for Christians to use to battle Satan. Our Christian testimony reveals to others how we came to the point of accepting JESUS as our Savior and how HE has ministered to us throughout our lives. It is our personal journey with GOD.

Some of the most powerful testimonies I have heard have been “I accepted JESUS as a young person and trusted HIM to lead and guide my life.” It 

was in the building 0f his or her relationship with JESUS, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, that magnified the work of the Holy Spirit in that person’s life. Never think that you do not have a powerful testimony. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you what you need to tell others about the manifestation and working of the power of GOD in your life.

Salvation is just the beginning of a person’s Spiritual journey, as we read our scripture -----

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:1-3:

2 Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. ² Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,^[a] so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, ³ if you have tasted that the Lord is good.^[b] 

When most of us begin our walk with JESUS, we have rough Spiritual edges that need to smoothed. The Apostle Peter wrote that Christians need to make a realistic assessment of their lives. The Holy Spirit can probe deep into our lives and expose areas that need smoothing.

As Christians we should desire to get rid of or bring under control, “all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander.” This is an attention getter. Once a person receives JESUS as his or her Savior that is just the beginning of building the right relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. The Good News is that CHRIST is in you to help you in this Spiritual growth process. I am 82 and still growing Spiritually and it is so exciting to discover new Spiritual issues and experience the truths that GOD reveals. Truths and not what we want to be truth.

The Apostle Peter wrote “ ² Like newborn infants, desire the pure milk of the word,^[a] so that by it you may grow up into your salvation, ³ if you have tasted that the Lord is good.^[b] 

Ground zero is taking the step of faith, which is believing that JESUS gave HIS sin free life to pay the penalty for sin, yours, mine and all who will place their faith in HIM by HIS shed blood. The step of faith is salvation or being Spiritually born into GOD’S Family never to be Spiritually unborn.

The Apostle Peter continued the concept that Spiritual rebirth parallels human conception. Like all newborn babies, Spiritual babies need Spiritual nourishment e.g. the milk of GOD’S Word and later the Apostle Paul wrote about the milk and meat of GOD’S Word as captured in 1 Corinthians 3:2-3 -  ² I gave you milk to drink, not solid food, since you were not yet ready for it. In fact, you are still not ready, ³ because you are still worldly. For since there is envy and strife^[a] among you, are you not worldly and behaving like mere humans? 

What happens to a baby if you feed him or her solid food before it is ready? It may get choked. New Christians have to be fed the milk of the Word until they can be fed the meat of the Word. The Spiritual development of a person’s teacher is vital to the Spiritual development of the Christian.

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:4-6:

⁴ As you come to him, a living stone—rejected by people but chosen and honored by^[c] God— ⁵ you yourselves, as living stones, a spiritual house, are being built to be a holy priesthood^[d] to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ For it stands in Scripture:

See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored^[e] cornerstone,
and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame.^[f]

Born-again Christians are “living stones” because JESUS is the foundation of the Spiritual temple being built of which all Spiritually born Christians are a vital part of its structure. Christians are being built into a “Holy Priesthood.” That is why Christians can lead others to a saving knowledge of JESUS. JESUS is the solid rock upon which GOD has established HIS living CHURCH and “and the one who believes in him
will never be put to shame.^[f]”

I saw this played out in my own life a number of years ago during my working career. There was a person who had a higher job title than I did. He/she wanted to replace me with someone to do what I was doing for his/her department. It wasn’t that I was doing a poor job, it was that I was doing a better job than his/her people because I had access to better information. I wasn’t going to be fired but replaced for one portion of which I was responsible. All of this was without my knowledge. When all said and almost done, personnel learned that my “to be” replacement had lied on his/her resume. That is when the scheme was uncovered.  YES, GOD’S children will never be put to shame.

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:7-10:

⁷ So honor will come to you who believe; but for the unbelieving,

The stone that the builders rejected—
this one has become the cornerstone,^[g]

⁸ and

A stone to stumble over,
and a rock to trip over.^[h]

They stumble because they disobey the word; they were destined for this.

⁹ But you are a chosen race,^[i][j] a royal priesthood,^[k] a holy nation,^[l] a people for his possession,^[m] so that you may proclaim the praises^[n][o] of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

JESUS is the “cornerstone.” What is the importance of the “cornerstone?” The “cornerstone” establishes the layout of the building and the layout of its walls. The structure of the building is determined by the placement of the cornerstone and GOD placed the cornerstone.

JESUS, the cornerstone is not a secret but is placed such that it is placed where people will stumble over it. GOD’S desire is for all people to discover JESUS and to place their faith in HIM as their Savior.

⁹ But you are a chosen race,^[i][j] a royal priesthood,^[k] a holy nation,^[l] a people for his possession,^[m] so that you may proclaim the praises^[n][o] of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Through the passion of JESUS, GOD has established a New Covenant based upon the Shed Blood of JESUS and the resurrection of JESUS from the physically dead. This new covenant ushers in the dispensation of GOD’S Grace.

Let’s read 1 Peter 2:11-15:

A Call to Good Works

¹¹ Dear friends, I urge you as strangers and exiles to abstain from sinful desires that wage war against the soul. ¹² Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles,^[p] so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.

¹³ Submit to every human authority because of the Lord, whether to the emperor^[q] as the supreme authority ¹⁴ or to governors as those sent out by him to punish those who do what is evil and to praise those who do what is good. ¹⁵ For it is God’s will that you silence the ignorance of foolish people by doing good. ¹⁶ Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brothers and sisters. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

As Christians, we are to set good examples where we live and where we sit. As Christians, we are GOD’S Ambassadors. We may say, ”That is a tall order” and you are correct. So how has GOD equipped us to be HIS Ambassadors?  When we ask JESUS to forgive us for our sins and to come into our hearts that is the instant of salvation. Then GOD equips us with the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT to lead, guide, instruct, empower and so much more.

Why do Christians not reach out to others? Often, it is lack of trust and faith. How much faith do Christians need? Have you ever seen a mustard seed? It is tiny but that is all the faith you need to plant and let it grow in your life. It takes some digging around, water, nutrients and harvesting its fruit as it grows.

Blessings!!!

Bible Study - Hope (2) - The Expression of Hope - 1 Peter1:13-25 - June 14, 2020

Bible Study – Hope (2) – The Expression of Hope – June 14, 2020

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Living with Hope in a Broken World.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Peter 1:13-25.

Our hope in CHRIST changes how we view the world and live in it.

In Whom is our hope? JESUS! Why? JESUS is GOD in the flesh. HE chose to come to earth to live as 100% human to be the perfect sacrifice for sin. HE chose to be human with the freewill to sin, yet HE knew that HE had to not sin. HE did this to be the perfect sacrifice for all who will place their faith in HIM to be the propitiation for their sin. HE had to be tempted, as all humans are tempted, yet to be without sin.

How do we know that HE passed the test of sinless perfection? GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to eternal life. Why? JESUS is the living example and hope for all who place their faith in HIM. When a person places his or her faith in JESUS the sin barrier has been removed. The person of faith in JESUS is Spiritually born into the Family of GOD and has eternal life. That miracle gives all born-again persons hope and changes their minds from hopelessness to hope.

It is not an empty hope but a hope based upon fact as we read in Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the reality^[a] of what is hoped for, the proof^[b] of what is not seen.

First Peter 1:3-5:

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead ⁴ and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you. ⁵ You are being guarded by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

First John 3:2-3:

² Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears,^[b] we will be like him because we will see him as he is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.

What does all this mean to us, as Christians? Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Timothy 2:5-6:

⁵ For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.

Let’s read Colossians 1:21-22:

²¹ Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. ²² But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him 

Where is the battlefield? Let’s read on -----

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:13-16:

A Call to Holy Living

¹³ Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance. ¹⁵ But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; ¹⁶ for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.^[d] 

The battlefield is the mind of every person, Christian or non-Christian. Satan works through the mind of every person. He does all he can to prevent a person from be coming a born-again Christian. Once a person becomes a Spiritually born-again Christian, Satan does all he can to defeat that person by working through his or her mind. That is why as we read in Romans 12:2 - ² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

Who renews a Christian’s mind? It is the indwelling Holy Spirit!

It is written, “Be holy, because I am holy.” Only being Spiritually born-again results in a person being made Holy.”

Once a person has been Spiritually born, he or she is to live by faith believing and putting into action as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit. That requires a different mindset. When the Holy Spirit prompts, respond.

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:17-21:

¹⁷ If you appeal to the Father who judges impartially according to each one’s work, you are to conduct yourselves in reverence during your time living as strangers. ¹⁸ For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Earth is not the home of Spiritually born Christians. They are strangers in a foreign land. Their home is Heaven but once a person is Spiritually born, GOD leaves him or her upon earth to witness to those needing salvation and helping fellow Christians to grow Spiritually. All born-again Christians are GOD’S Ambassadors. (2 Cor. 5:20). They are examples and expressions of GOD and HIS love.

Every Spiritually born Christian has been redeemed from eternal death and Hell to eternal life as a Child of GOD to live eternally with GOD. All Spiritually born Christians have been redeemed by “not with perishable things like silver or gold, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. ²⁰ He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you. ²¹ Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

Peter, the Apostle of JESUS, did not claim that his association with JESUS was enough to get him to Heaven. NO! It was through his “faith and hope” in JESUS and HIS passion.

That is the way for all of us to be Spiritually born Christians.

First Corinthians 6:19-20: ¹⁹ Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.^[e]

Let’s read 1 Peter 1:22-25:

²² Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,^[e] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure^[f] heart love one another constantly,^[g] 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God. ²⁴ For

All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.^[h]

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

As Christians read, study and apply GOD’S Word to their lives, it has a regenerating, cleansing effect on their lives. That is why GOD desires for all Christians to study HIS Word.

In Ephesians 5:25-27:

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, ²⁶ that He might ^[g]sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

I want us to see the power of GOD’S Word. The shed blood of JESUS washes all Christians clean at the instant they ask JESUS to forgive them for their sins. This begins the cleansing and washing process referred to as sanctification. As Christians read and study GOD’S Word it is powerful and washes the dirt and stains from our lives for us to be able to see clearly what needs to be changed in our lives and what GOD is changing in our lives.

How can GOD’S Word do that? Hebrews 4:12-13 - ¹² For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. ¹³ No creature is hidden from him, but all things are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.

So, what was the Apostle Peter communicating to the Christian community “²² Since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth,^[e] so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure^[f] heart love one another constantly,^[g] 23 because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.”

Where do we find truth? We find truth in GOD’S Word. JESUS was praying as recorded in John 17:12-19, ¹² While I was with them, I was protecting them by your name that you have given me. I guarded them and not one of them is lost, except the son of destruction,^[d] so that the Scripture may be fulfilled. ¹³ Now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy completed in them. ¹⁴ I have given them your word. The world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁵ I am not praying that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. ¹⁸ As you sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ I sanctify myself for them, so that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

GOD’S Word has a sanctifying – cleansing, purifying, probing – effect on those who read, study it and put it into practice. (page28, Advanced Bible Study, summer 2020, LifeWay, Nashville, TN.” As we read, study and put into practice GOD’S Word it has a profound impact upon us, as Christians. As we read in 2 Timothy 318-17: ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for ^[c]instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

JESUS is truth and all born-again Christians have JESUS. Having truth in the lives of Christians gives them the opportunity to be changed. However, we can block truth from changing our lives. We can block truth as it is revealed to us as we study GOD’S Word. Christians must embrace truth and allow truth to work in their lives. What do I mean?

When truth is revealed, do we embrace it? Do we believe it? Do we have the faith to apply it when GOD gives us opportunity? It is all about growing faith.

In verse 23, Peter wrote “because you have been born again—not of perishable seed but of imperishable—through the living and enduring word of God.

As Christians have been born-again with an imperishable seed, which is the Spirit of GOD. Christians are conceived by the union of GOD’S divine sperm/Spirit and the human spirit which results in a new Spiritual you. Seeds have the power to reproduce. How do Christians reproduce? It is when GOD leads them to invest their time and Christian experience into those who are seeking truth and a new life in JESUS. Christianity is all about reproducing and growing in faith and trust in GOD.

In verse 24, we read:

²⁴ For All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like a flower of the grass.
The grass withers, and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord endures forever.^[h]

And this word is the gospel that was proclaimed to you.

All human life upon earth will eventually die “but the word of the Lord endures forever.” GOD’S Word is a forever investment and is more powerful than a two-edged sword.

-         GOD’S Word has a sanctifying effect on those who put it into practice.

-         The presence of GOD’S love in our hearts is confirmation of our experience of the new birth in JESUS.

-         The seed of GOD’S Word produces life and fruit in our lives for all to see.

-         Unlike man’s words, GOD’S Word has dynamic power to change our lives. (Page31, Advanced Bible Study, summer 2020)

GOD’S Word changes lives. Embrace it and apply it.

Blessings!!!