The Battle for Personal Power

The Battle of Personal Power

 MATTHEW 4:1-11

THEME: The Holy Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. Jesus triumphs over Satan, then returns to Galilee to begin his ministry and calls his first four disciples.

RELEVANCE: Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan indisputably. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.

INTRODUCTION:

Our Lord’s experience of temptation prepared Him to be our sympathetic High Priest.

Hebrews 2:16-18, For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. [17] Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. [18] For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. [16] Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

It is important to note that Jesus faced the enemy as man, not as the Son of God. His first word was, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” We must not think that Jesus used His divine powers to overcome the enemy, because that is just what the enemy wanted Him to do! Jesus used the spiritual resources that are available to us today: the power of the Holy Spirit of God (Matt. 4:1), and the power of the Word of God (“It is written”).

LESSON:

Jesus Defeats The Devil (Matt. 4:1-11):

Jesus is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

THIRD ROUND OF ATTACK—LIVE FOR PERSONAL POWER (Matt. 4:8-10) 

The Temptation to Seek Worldly Power (Matt. 4:8-9): All the Power and Glory This World Has to Offer Is Yours If You’ll Only Kneel Down and Worship Me. 

1.    In The Third Temptation, the Devil Took Jesus Up on an Exceedingly High Mountain and Showed Him “All The Kingdoms Of The World.”

a.     He offered them to Jesus in exchange for His worship. Although this temptation had to do with worship, an exercise of the spirit, it was an effort to seduce our Lord to grasp imperial power over the world by worshiping Satan.

b.    The reward offered, all the kingdoms of the world with their glory-grandeur, appealed to “the lust of the eyes” (1 Jn. 2:16).

c.     In a sense, the kingdoms of the world do belong to the devil at present.

                                                   i.     He is spoken of as “the god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4), and John tells us that “the whole world lieth in wickedness”(1 Jn. 5:19).

                                                 ii.     When Jesus appears at the Second Advent as King of kings (Rev. 19:16), then “the kingdoms of this world” become His (Rev. 11:15).

                                               iii.     Jesus would not violate the divine timetable, and certainly He would never worship Satan!

2.    For Us the Temptation Is Twofold:

1.    To Barter Our Spiritual Birthright for the Passing Glory of This World.

2.    To Worship and Serve the Creature Rather Than the Creator.  The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if Jesus would only bow down and worship him.

a.     Today Satan offers us the world by trying to entice us with materialism, sex, and power. The devil would like us to believe that "life is short, get all you can!"

b.    Even Christian leaders find themselves tempted to build empires here on earth.

c.     But Satan requires people to pay for such success by selling their souls to him. We must resist temptations in the same way that Jesus did.

d.    If you find yourself craving something that the world offers, quote Jesus' words to the devil: “Worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Then follow that advice, with the support and prayers of Christian friends.

3.    The Devil Offered Jesus A Shortcut to His Kingdom.

a.    Jesus knew that He would suffer and die before He entered into His glory (Luke 24:26; 1 Peter 1:11; 5:1).

b.    If He bowed down and worshiped Satan just once (this is the force of the Greek verb), He could enjoy all the glory without enduring the suffering.

c.     Satan has always wanted worship, because Satan has always wanted to be God (Isa. 14:12–14).

d.    Worshiping the creature instead of the Creator is the lie that rules our world today (Rom. 1:24–25).

4.    There Are No Shortcuts to the Will of God.

a.    If we want to share in the glory, we must also share in the suffering (1 Peter 5:10). As the prince of this world, Satan could offer these kingdoms to Christ (John 12:31; 14:30). But Jesus did not need Satan’s offer.

b.    The Father had already promised Jesus the kingdom! “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen [nations] for Thine inheritance” (Ps. 2:8).

c.     You find the same promise in Psalm 22:22–31, and this is the psalm of the cross. 

The Triumph Over the Desires of the Eyes. (Matt. 4:10): Get out of here Satan; Worship and Serve the Lord your God only!

1.    For The Third Time, Jesus Resisted Temptation by Using the Bible: “Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and Him only you shalt thou serve.” (Deut. 6:13).

a.     Worship and the service that flows from it are for God alone. To worship Satan would be tantamount to acknowledging him as God.

b.    Satan had said nothing about service, but Jesus knew that whatever we worship, we will serve. Worship and service must go together.

2.    The Order of The Temptations as Recorded by Matthew Varies from That in Luke (4:1–13). Some have suggested that Matthew’s order parallels the order of the temptations that Israel faced in the wilderness (Ex. 16; 17; 32). Jesus showed Himself in perfect contrast to Israel’s response to hardship.

3.    Also, The Word “Then” In Matt. 4:5 And the Word “Again” In Matt. 4:8, Seems to Indicate Sequence.

a.     Luke only uses the simple conjunction “and” and does not say he is following a sequence.

b.    Our Lord’s command at the end of the third temptation (“Get thee hence, Satan!”) is proof that Matthew followed the historical order. There is no contradiction since Luke did not claim to follow the actual sequence.

II. The Assistance of the Angels (Matt. 4:11): Afterward, Angels Come and Care for Jesus.

A.   SATAN LEAVING (Matt. 4:11).

1.    When Jesus Had Successfully Defeated Satan’s Temptations, The Devil Left Him.

2.    Temptations Come in Waves Rather Than in A Steady Flow. What an encouragement for God’s tested saints!

a.     Isaiah 59:19, So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

b.    The metaphor of "lifting a standard" for making an armed resistance is common in Isaiah (Isa 5:26; 13:2; 18:3; 31:9).

c.     “That, whatever attempts the enemies of God's people may afterwards make upon them to disturb their peace, they shall be baffled and brought to nought: When the enemy shall come in like a flood, like a high spring-tide, or a land-flood, which threaten to bear down all before them without control, then the Spirit of the Lord by some secret undiscerned power shall lift up a standard against him, and so (as the margin reads it) put him to flight. He that has delivered will still deliver. When God's people are weak and helpless, and have no standard to lift up against the invading power, God will give a banner to those that fear him (Ps 60:4), will by his Spirit lift up a standard, which will draw multitudes together to appear on the church's behalf.” --- Matthew Henry

3.    Satan Slunk Away, A Defeated Foe; But He Did Not Cease to Tempt Jesus.

a.     We understand that Luke 4:13, carries the idea, “that the devil ended every possible kind of temptation, he stood off from Christ until a suitable time.”

b.    Through Peter, Satan again tempted Jesus to abandon the cross (Matt. 16:21–23); and through the crowd that had been fed, Satan tempted Jesus to an “easy kingdom” (John 6:15).

c.     One victory never guarantees freedom from further temptation. If anything, each victory we experience only makes Satan try harder.

B.   ANGELS ARRIVING (Matt. 4:11).

1.    We Are Told That Angels Came And Ministered Unto Him, But No Explanation Is Given for This Supernatural Assistance. It probably means that they provided the physical nourishment for Him which He had refused to provide at Satan’s suggestion.

2.    We Learn That the Devil Can Attack Those Who Are Controlled by the Holy Spirit, But That He Is Powerless Against Those Who Resist Him with the Word of God.

3.    After Jesus Christ Had Defeated Satan, He Was Ready to Begin His Ministry. No man has a right to call others to obey who has not obeyed himself. Our Lord proved Himself to be the perfect King whose sovereignty is worthy of our respect and obedience. But, true to his purpose, Matthew had one more witness to call to prove the kingship of Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus was tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. He exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan indisputably. Because of His victory, we can have victory over the tempter.

 

The Battle of Pride

Jesus Defeats the Devil: The Battle of Pride

 MATTHEW 4:1-11

 

THEME: Jesus definitively triumphs over Satan to show us how to live for spiritual priorities instead of succumbing to the temptations to live for our pride, prestige, and glory.

RELEVANCE: Jesus is tempted so that every creature in heaven, on earth, or under the earth might know that Jesus Christ is the great Conqueror. This temptation is necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world. The devil will encourage us to adopt a value system that places an unhealthy emphasis on physical and material things, but Jesus un-mistakenly points out our real priorities. In addition, He exposes Satan and his schemes, while crushing him most convincingly. Because of Christ’s victory, we can win against the temptations of pride.

INTRODUCTION:

It is important to note that Jesus faced the enemy as a man, not as the Son of God. We must not think that Jesus used His divine powers to overcome the enemy, because that is just what the enemy wanted Him to do! Jesus used the spiritual resources that are available to us today: the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 4:1), and the power of the Word of God (“It is written”).

LESSON:

Jesus Defeats The Devil (Matt. 4:1-11):

I. The Attacks of the Adversary (Matt. 4:2-11)

This period was a necessary time under God’s direction—another occasion where the Son obeyed and endured until the tests were completed. Hebrews 5:8, says, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;”.

The Son of God never sinned, so He did not learn “obedience” in the sense of overcoming personal rebellion. Rather, He experienced “obedience” in a tangible, flesh-and-blood way. By living as a man, He chose to submit to the Father’s will in real-time and real-world situations. 

Now Jesus, our great High Priest, can truly sympathize with our struggles. By experiencing suffering and choosing obedience through it, Jesus became the qualified and perfect source of salvation for us all. 

THE SECOND ATTACK OF SATAN—LIVE FOR PERSONAL PRIDE, PRESTIGE, AND YOUR OWN IMMEDIATE GLORY (Matt. 4:5-7). 

A The Temptation of Pride (Matt. 4:5-6): Prove you are the Son of God; jump off the highest point of the Temple!

Matthew 4:5-6, Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, ⁶ And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

1.     The Second Temptation Took Place In Jerusalem On The Pinnacle Of The Temple.

a.      The devil challenged Jesus to throw Himself down as a spectacular display of His divine Sonship to gain popularity and acceptance. The Lord Jesus was taken to a pinnacle of the temple, probably about 500 feet above the Kidron Valley.

b.     Satan knew of the protection promised to the Messiah by God in Psalms. Psalm 91:11-12, For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. [12] They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

c.      Satan made a subtle suggestion to Jesus as the Messiah. He may have been reminding Jesus of Malachi’s prophecy (Mal. 3:1). The people expected Messiah to suddenly appear in the sky, coming down to His temple. Satan was saying, in essence, “Why don’t You do what the people are expecting and make some marvelous display? After all, the Scripture says His angels will protect You as You come down!” (W. W. Wiersbe) 

d.     Beloved, be alert to any power, strength, ability, gift, talent, beauty, or prominence you may possess! This could become a source of pride and independence of God!   

2.     The Temptation Was For Jesus To Demonstrate That He Was Messiah By Performing A Sensational Stunt.

a.      Jesus could achieve glory without suffering; He could bypass the cross and still reach the throne. But this action would be outside the will of God.

b.     John describes this appeal as “the pride of life” (1 Jn. 2:16). It resembles the “tree desirable to make one wise” (Gen. 3:6) in the Garden of Eden, as both were a means of achieving personal glory while ignoring God’s will.

c.      This is a desire to attain religious prominence apart from the fellowship of His suffering. We seek great things for ourselves, then run and hide when difficulties come our way. When we ignore God’s will to exalt ourselves, we tempt God.

d.     Satan challenges Jesus to prove His divine identity. He is tempting Jesus to take matters into His own hands rather than submitting to God's intended path of suffering and obedience.

e.      Ignoring God's will to exalt ourselves leads to spiritual separation, misplaced priorities, and an inevitable downfall. Pride fosters arrogance and self-reliance, while true purpose and honor come from surrendering to God's plan and serving others.

f.      Aligning your will with God's shifts your focus from earthly recognition to serving others, ultimately allowing Him to guide, honor, and elevate you in His perfect timing.

g.     God repeatedly warns us against pride, describing it as a spiritual barrier that invites destruction, brings shame, and causes individuals to exalt themselves above God. These passages caution that self-reliance without God ultimately leads to a fall. 

1.     Warnings about the Destructive Nature of Pride

a.      Proverbs 16:18, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

b.     Proverbs 11:2, When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

c.      Proverbs 29:23, A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.

2.     Warnings revealing God's Opposition to Pride

a.      James 4:6, ...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

b.     Proverbs 16:5, Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.

c.      Psalm 10:4, The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

3.     Mandates that Call us to Humility before Him

a.      1 Peter 5:5, Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

b.     Philippians 2:3, Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

3. This Temptation Was Even More Subtle Because Satan Also Used the Word of God.

a.      “So You intend to live by the Scriptures,” Satan implied. “Then let me quote You a verse of Scripture and see if You will obey it!” Satan then quoted from Psalm 91:11–12 where God promised to care for His own. “If You really believe the Scriptures, then jump! Let’s see if the Father cares for You!”

b.     Satan May Have Thought If Jesus Could Quote Scripture To Him, He Could Quote It Too. However, he purposely did not quote Psalm 91:11-12 accurately. He left out an important phrase, “in all thy ways.” According to the psalmist, a person is protected only when he is following the Lord’s will. For Jesus to cast Himself down from the pinnacle of the temple in some dramatic display to accommodate Himself to the people’s thinking would not have been God’s will. Jesus’ response indicated that it would not be proper to test God and expect Him to do something when one is out of His will.

c.      Note Carefully Our Lord’s Reply: “It Is Written AGAIN” (Matt. 4:7). We must never divorce one part of Scripture from another, but we must always “compare spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Cor. 2:13). We can prove almost anything by the Bible if we isolate texts from the contexts and turn them into pretexts. Satan had cleverly omitted the phrase “in all Thy ways” when he quoted from Psalm 91. When the child of God is in the will of God, the Father will protect him. He watches over those who are “in His ways.” (W. W. Wiersbe)

d.     Satan tempts Jesus to prove He is the Son of God by jumping from the high pinnacle of the temple. The devil weaponizes scripture by quoting Psalm 91:11-12, trying to trick Jesus into foolishly testing God’s promise of protection for a cheap, spectacular show. 

 

B.   The Triumph Over Pride (Matt. 4:7): Do not presume to test the Lord or force Him to accommodate your will; respect the fact that He is God!

 Matthew 4:7,  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

1.     Jesus Replied with Deuteronomy 6:16: “Thou Shalt Not Tempt The Lord Thy God.”

a.      We tempt God when we put ourselves into circumstances that force Him to work miracles on our behalf. The diabetic who refuses to take insulin and argues, “Jesus will take care of me,” may be tempting the Lord.

b.     We tempt God when we try to force Him to contradict His own Word. It is important for us as believers to read all Scripture, and study all God has to say, for all of it is profitable for daily life (2 Tim. 3:16–17).

c.      Jesus reveals that demanding God perform a miracle to prove His love or power is not faith; it is a lack of trust and an act of manipulation.

d.     God had promised to preserve the Messiah, but that guarantee presupposed living in God’s will. To claim the promise in an act of disobedience would be tempting God.

 

2.     Again, Jesus Resisted the Temptation for Immediate Glory, Prestige and Pride! 

a.      The time would come when Jesus would be revealed as Messiah, but the cross must come first. It is wise to wait on God’s timing.

b.     The altar of sacrifice must precede the throne. The crown of thorns must precede the crown of glory. Refuse to be afraid of sacrifices for the Lord’s sake. We are correct when we anticipate suffering, pain, investment, obligation and payment before any returns, privileges, or advantages.

c.      Jesus would await God’s time and would accomplish God’s will. Making a point of walking daily in the will of God is one way to demonstrate faith in it.

d.     A life of humility honors to the Lord and the Lord will honor a life of humility. Proverbs 22:4 says: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.” True reverence for God and a spirit of humility yields great spiritual rewards. The Lord exalts and honors the humble!

1.     Proverbs 15:33, The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

2.     Proverbs 18:12, Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

3.     1 Peter 5:6, Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

We can triumph over pride and Satan’s temptations when we know God’s Word for ourselves, understand His will for us, cling to His approaches, and timing. The wiser we are the more his manipulations lose their power over us. Refuse to take suggestions from Satan, the world system, and the carnal fleshly nature we all still possess. Never trust the Devil’s usage of the Scriptures, it is okay to go back and study the Word more carefully for yourself. It is also okay to give yourself some time to reflect, and to gain thinking equilibrium. Place a little time, perhaps 24 hours, between your initial impressions or impulses and any follow-through actions. If there is a need to be hasty, rushed, quick, or hurried it may NOT be the best course of action no matter what they ‘promised’. Any offers that make you feel ‘time pressure’ or ‘a limited time offer’ is probably not from God! If it seems too good to be true…it probably is! 

CONCLUSION:

Jesus triumphs over Satan’s temptations of pride and independence! He was tempted so that every creature might know that Jesus Christ is the matchless Conqueror. This temptation was necessary to demonstrate His moral fitness to do the work for which He had come into the world.

Additionally, Jesus exposed Satan and his tactics, and He defeated Satan without a doubt. Because of Christ’s success, we can have many conquests over pride and the tempter.

By our experiencing various sufferings, inconveniences, hardnesses and choosing obedience to God through them, we become qualified comforters and perfect aids in the salvation and growth of others. Yes, we too can definitively triumph over Satan and live for God’s priorities instead of yielding to Satan’s temptations to live for pride, prestige, and glory.

Refuse to Retaliate

 

1 Peter 3:8-12 

SUBJECT: The Glory Inherent in Christian Suffering

THEME: Christ will turn our suffering and unfairness of today into triumph and glory for eternity because we are called to bless others.

INTRODUCTION: No doubt you have been treated unfairly by careless Christians, relatives, or unfortunately close friends. I am also sure it left you hurt, confused, disconcerted, and angry. No doubt a part of you wanted to get back at them…to make them feel what pains you felt! Perhaps you wondered how much longer you could endure the hardships you were facing…not sure if you could take anymore. It may be that you seriously wished that life was all over, and you were already with Jesus…never to suffer again. These are the real feelings and puzzles we grapple with…part of troubled hearts…. God has addressed these real issues to guide Believers’ actions.

Believers are to be like-minded, sympathetic, tenderhearted, and courteous, which means they are to be humble-minded, not trying to lord it over one another. This is to be the attitude and action of a believer among other believers.^[a]

The Lord Jesus expressed these same ideas about showing mercy and kindness instead of getting even or retaliating against those who wrong and abuse us.

Matthew 5:43-48, Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? ⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? ⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Luke 6:27-33, But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, ²⁸ Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. ²⁹ And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also. ³⁰ Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. ³¹ And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. ³² For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. ³³ And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

The key our Lord submitted was that of showing mercy and kindness to the most undeserving refusing to retaliate, but instead going the extra mile to act like we are govern by principles rooted in who we actually are from God’s vantage point. As a result, we bless and not curse, we give grace and not deserts, and we express kindness instead of retaliating. Such actions are consistent with our calling as Believers…people who are summoned to bless should bless everyone and anyone regardless of what happens to us. Peter also subscribes to this kind of thinking and behavior. 

Message:

BE SUBMISSIVE TO CHRIST AND BE GENEROUS TO FELLOW BELIEVERS (1Pet. 3:8-12). 1 Pet 3:8-9, Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Peter has dealt thoroughly with various groups, Citizens, Servants, Wives, Husbands, and now he addresses them all as a group of Believers.

      A. SHARED OBEDIENCE REGARDING A SINGULAR ATTITUDE (ONENESS OF MIND) Vs 8

In the first two chapters Peter referred to “all kinds of trials” (1:6), accusations of “doing wrong” (2:12), “the ignorant talk of foolish men” (2:15), and “the pain of unjust suffering” (2:19). All these persecutions seem to have resulted from the natural reactions of a pagan society against Christians who faithfully obeyed Jesus Christ.

Peter then warned that a time of more severe persecution and suffering was close at hand. He cautioned Christians to keep clear consciences when facing injustice, to endure the inevitable suffering with Christlike courage.^[b]

We as believers will not see everything in the same fashion.  We won’t agree on everything, but we should have a singleness of heart and oneness of mind. We should remain focused on Christ! The best formula is contained in the well-known expression: “In Fundamentals, unity; in non- essentials, liberty; in everything, love.”

             1. Our minds should be focused on becoming more like Christ.

             2. Our minds should be focused on living holy, righteous, and pure lives.

             3. Our minds should be focused on bearing spiritual character and fruit.

             4. Our minds should be focused on carrying out the ministry and mission of Christ to the world.

      B.  SHARED OBEDIENCE REGARDING COMPASSION Vs 8

Literally, this means to suffer with and this admonition is especially appropriate when given to those undergoing persecution.  We as believers are to:

           1. Suffer with those who are suffering

           2. Weep with those who are weeping

           3. Rejoice with them who have been honored

           4. Understand the pressures of a leader when he leads

           5. Grieve with the sorrows of others.

Real compassion will build unity in a church! These are the things that REAL CHRISTIANS do for each other from the Heart.

      C. SHARED OBEDIENCE TO LOVE, TENDERNESS OF HEART AND COURTESY Vs 8

We as believers must develop a real sensitivity and genuine affection for each other.  We should be the kind of Christians that will deny ourselves for someone else benefit.  We should experience such real love and pity that we are moved to act, help, comfort, support and solace with all humility of heart.

Love as brothers. An unknown author writes:

Providence does not ask us whom we would like to be our brethren—that is settled for us; but we are bidden to love them, irrespective of our natural predilections and tastes. You say, “That is impossible!” But remember that true love does not necessarily originate in the emotions, but in the will; it consists not in feeling but in doing; not in sentiment, but in action; not in soft words, but in noble and unselfish deeds.

Tenderhearted means having a heart sensitive to the needs and feelings of others. It refuses to turn cold, callous, or cynical in spite of abuse.

Courteous—It seems so proper that courtesy should be taught as one of the Christian virtues. Essentially it means humbly thinking of others, putting others first, and saying and doing the gracious thing. Courtesy serves others before self, jumps at opportunities to assist, and expresses prompt appreciation for kindnesses received. It is never coarse, vulgar, or rude.^[c]

      D.  SHARED OBEDIENCE REGARDING BLESSING Vs 9-10

Mutual Christian submission is not characterized by backbiting but with blessing! We are not people with a spirit of retaliation towards those who do us evil; we instead look to be a blessing.  We do not fight with the weapons of hate and evil but with the weapons of love and righteousness.  We are not overcome with evil, we overcome evil with good!

              1.  The Lord Jesus Christ Taught This Concept.

Matt 5:39, But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Matt 5:45, That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Luke 6:35, But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

              2.  The Wisest Man that Ever Lived (King Solomon) Taught This Concept.

Prov 20:22, Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

Ps 37:34, Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.

Prov 24:29, Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

It takes real faith to believe God through a situation where we are hurting and where we are being treated unfairly, but that is exactly what we are to do. This temptation is amplified by our feelings of fair play. The more justified we feel, the harder it is to refuse to get back at them. But we are not to have a retaliatory spirit; the Lord (His job alone) will make sure that every man gets what he deserves. Rom 12:19-21, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  20, Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21, Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

IN LIGHT OF THESE TRUTHS, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY THAT ONLY A CHRISTIAN WOULD DO?

-That boss at work did not treat you right or fairly; do you want to get back at him or her for that obvious wrong?

-Your wife didn’t speak to you with the kindness and respect she should have; do you yell and scream back at her to show her failure?

-That Brother didn’t speak to you at church, so now you aren’t going to speak to him anymore. Is this Christian?

-That Sister hurt your feelings by saying something insensitive to you before others; are you going to make sure you hurt her somehow?

Peter is saying, “Grow up and stop acting like little children!” Your calling it to render a blessing!

Peter says that we are to refrain from constantly speaking evil of others. And we are to refrain from speaking “guile,” from being deceptive and not telling the truth.^[d]

        E.  SHARED OBEDIENCE TO PURSUE PEACE AND PRAYERFULNESS Vs 11-12

                1. We as Believers Are to Turn from Evil and Do Good.

‘eschew’ means to avoid evil or to turn away from evil.   Vs 11

                        (a) We should Turn from the evil of Fornication     1 Cor 6:16.

                        (b) We should turn from the evil love for Money    1Tim. 6:9-11

                        (c) We should turn from the evil of Youthful Lust     2Tim. 2:22

                        (d) We should turn from the evil of Retaliation      1 Pet. 3:9

                2.   We as Believers Are to Pursue Peace.  Vs 11

‘seek’ and ‘ensue’ means to chase after or press after peace.  We are not to wait on it to happen we are to get after it and pursue it.

                         (a) The pursuit of peace is a central theme in the Christian life. Peace with God, Peace with self, and Peace with others. Our Mission is also a mission of peace to the world.

                         (b) The pursuit of peace is the responsibility of the believer when we have offended someone or when someone has offended us. Matt 18:15, Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Also Luke 17:3-4,

IF GOD FORGAVE US THEN WE ARE TO FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER!  WE DO NOT HOLD GRUDGES OR HARBOR HATRED AND WE DO NOT WORK DECEIT AGAINST EACH OTHER!  GIVE THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS! Matt 6:14-15, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15, But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

               3.  God Will Hear the Prayer of Them That Do Good.   Vs 12

Ps 34:15, The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Isa 65:24, And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.                                 

               4.  God Will Not Hear the Prayers of Them That Do Evil.   vs 12

Ps 66:18, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

We who belong to Christ and are possessed by Him should bring blessing wherever we go and through whatever we do. To be sure, we live in a world in which we are often confronted by evil. Our natural response is to do evil to those who do evil to us. But Peter reminds us of the basis of Christian ethics and lifestyle: we should not render evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, we should do good to those who do evil. In fact, bringing blessing to others is a part of our Christian calling (v. 9).^[e]

CONCLUSION: 

Clearly, these “figures emphasize God’s watchful oversight and careful attention to His people’s needs (cf. 2:25).”^[f]

Beloved, we must disconnect ourselves from any notion of getting even, fighting fire with fire, retaliating, having our pound of flesh, or reacting in kind! This is a worldly approach to unfair treatments, and it destroyed everyone who is involved in some manner and to some degree. We must respond to unfair conditions in love and generosity in doing so we commend the kingdom of God and fulfill our calling as Blessers!

News like this will help us smile through the tears when life hurts the most because we subscribe to a higher and greater purpose! Certainly, we are sacrificed in the process…we are reduced for the time being…we endure shame to our person. But there is something more important than the world’s definition of our pride, dignity, and worth. There will come, no doubt, a day when the Sum of Our Suffering will equal Glory!  Life and many circumstances may be unfair for the moment, and we will endure difficulties, false accusations, mistreatments, unfair results, and hardships. But great will be the reward of the saint that stays true to the Lord through the hard stuff. 

We must therefore conduct ourselves as brothers with compassion and sensitivity one towards the other. We must seek peace and prayerfulness for each other and all men refusing to resort to a spirit of retaliation. Look further to the words and example of our Lord and follow closely in His steps--for He leads to glory with Him.

We must continue to follow God’s instructions for the grieving saints. God will one day vindicate our faith before this wicked generation just as He did with Noah in his day.

When dreams seem to fade in this life, we will still have the hope of the next life with Christ!

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^[a] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 5 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 699.

^[b] Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 849.

^[c] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2269–2270.

^[d] J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary, electronic ed., vol. 5 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997), 700.

^[e] Paul A. Cedar and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, James / 1 & 2 Peter / Jude, vol. 34, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1984), 161–162.

^[f] Roger M. Raymer, “1 Peter,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 850.