On the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the USA World Trade Center, Pastor Fisher shares insights into his perspective on the state of America and God’s desire for her salvation, and continues in teaching through the Epistle of First Peter in the fourth chapter where he reveals from the Scriptures the protective armor that God has supplied for His children to possess “The Equipment For Progress” Please listen in and study with us!
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Psalms 119:9 – 19 (NASB)
Psa 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Thy word.
Psa 119:10 With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments.
Psa 119:11 Thy word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against Thee.
Psa 119:12 Blessed art Thou, O LORD; Teach me Thy statutes.
Psa 119:13 With my lips I have told of All the ordinances of Thy mouth.
Psa 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.
Psa 119:15 I will meditate on Thy precepts, And regard Thy ways.
Psa 119:16 I shall delight in Thy statutes; I shall not forget Thy word.
Psa 119:17 Deal bountifully with Thy servant, That I may live and keep Thy word.
Psa 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold Wonderful things from Thy law.
Psa 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Thy commandments from me.
New Testament Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 3:17 – 4:5 (NASB)
1 Pet 3:17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong. 1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit; 1 Pet 3:19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison, 1 Pet 3:20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water. 1 Pet 3:21 And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you– not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience– through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Pet 3:22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. 1 Pet 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 1 Pet 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 1 Pet 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. 1 Pet 4:4 And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you; 1 Pet 4:5 but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) True progress is maturing in the precepts of the word of God so that true life-changing results become apparent to ourselves as well as to those with whom we interact in daily life. #2) Careful, prayerful meditation and examination of the sufferings of Christ provide the believer with the equipment to bring about this “True Progress”; which according to the world is reason to pass critical judgments, and make attempts to find fault with the life-styles of true Christians who are in pursuit of godliness. #3) Adam, Satan, and demons, chose to disobey God when all was perfect and holy as compared to Jesus Who was in the perfect Holy presence of God and yet chose to place Himself under submission to the righteous requirement of His Father, and the fallen, violent, evil, misunderstanding councils of men under the power of the devil, in order to redeem all that was lost due to the disobedience; and He Persevered to PERFECTION!!
