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Anchored By His Promises
We have now come to the conclusion of the first epistle of Peter. Listen and learn God’s admonition to the persecuted saints which Peter through the Holy Spirit has written explaining how we may be anchored by God’s promises in all circumstances as we endure affliction from the world, the flesh, and even the devil.
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| Old Testament Scripture Reading: Genesis 15:1 – 11 (NASB) |
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Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”
Gen 15:2 And Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
Gen 15:3 And Abram said, “Since Thou hast given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir.”
Gen 15:4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.”
Gen 15:5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
Gen 15:6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
Gen 15:7 And He said to him, “I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.”
Gen 15:8 And he said, “O Lord GOD, how may I know that I shall possess it?”
Gen 15:9 So He said to him, “Bring Me a three year old heifer, and a three year old female goat, and a three year old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.”
Gen 15:10 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, and laid each half opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds.
Gen 15:11 And the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.
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| New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 5:8 – 14 (NASB) |
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1 Pet 5:8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
1 Pet 5:9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
1 Pet 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
1 Pet 5:11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Pet 5:12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!
1 Pet 5:13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark.
1 Pet 5:14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.
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Transforming Power Statements:
#1) No matter how things seem, the believer in the Son of God as Savior and LORD must by faith embrace the realities of the promises of God, regardless of present circumstances, knowing that God is fully able to sustain and perfect the things that He has decreed…. This is our anchor.
#2) Even though the devil is on the prowl, we can trust that our God is able to deliver us and sustain us in all things, just as He is doing in all of the church in the world, even in “Babylon”.
#3) Lets pray about how we can put up a descent fight against the devil and the forces of darkness that have set themselves against the prosperity and peace of the children of God, and the mission of Christ, so that we can be strong soldiers in the army of God. |
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