Lesson 60
Study of
First Peter Chapter 3
Review:
4:1 Therefore, since Christ has
suffered in the flesh, you also arm yourselves with the same mental attitude
because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin (sin nature no longer to
dominate life)
Rabbit trail #1
*
In 2 Cor 10:4-5 Paul summarizes the principle on how we should
deal with and respond to unfair and unjust treatment.
- this ability, this empowering
is from God, Paul says its "divinely powerful" lit. "mighty (strong) through God."
We are (always) destroying
speculations;
(huvpt opinions) and
every lofty thing (always) raised up against the
knowledge (gnwij), of God, and we
are (always) taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
Taking every
thought captive!
* In the last part of vs:4 he talks about "tearing down, destroying fortresses." What are these fortresses that we are to
tear down?
Therefore in vs:5 he says, "We are always destroying" kaqaire,w
has 2 uses;
#1 to tear down a bldg.
#2 to dethrone someone from power.
Paul
goes on to describe what this kind of thinking that we are to tear down! "every lofty
thing raised up against the knowledge of God."
What's
the type of thinking?? It is every kind of huvpt
reasoning that opposes DVPT!! i.e. the mind dominated by sin nature.
Paul
is saying I am in control in the sense that my volition must be exercised with
regard to what I think. Must choose
carefully!
* Every time we
pick up God's Word, every time we assemble as we are cmd'd
to do to study together His word; Some huvpt
ought to be destroyed.
* So the intent
of the teaching of God's Word is to destroy and to build up; destroy human vpt thinking and build up
a foundation of truth!
Rabbit trail #2
The Resolution of the Spiritual Battle, importance of
being prepared for the battle:
1. You cannot
legitimately deny that you are in the midst of a great struggle. Eph
- to deny this is to
play the ostrich
2. So, you must learn the details of this struggle so that
you have the discernment necessary to evaluate your circumstances and to apply
the Word of God. 2 Cor
3. Your impact and survival in the angelic conflict requires the
"Full Armor of God:" Eph
a. We must be empowered by the Lord,
operate with His strength: Eph 6:10
1) This requires or
begins with salvation, plus the consistent ministry of the Spirit filling us
with Christ, that is His Word and on our part to believe that truth and apply
it as appropriate.
2) We cannot fight
Satan and his forces alone, in our own strength and ability.
3) To be successful
we must utilize the spiritual resources that are provided in grace. Phil 4:13
b.
Standing
against and resisting the Devil and his
counterfeits requires the "Full Armor of God to be utilized" (
1) The schemes in view are thru the areas of his
counterfeits that he uses to try and entrap all mankind, to impact their
thinking.
2) Notice that we are to have ALL the armor, the full
armor, for maximum protection.
3) No strategy can prevail against you IF you use the your resources!!
(
c. As a believer you are in the middle of the struggle/conflict
whether you like, realize it or not. (
d.
The
armor is not put on for you! (
vs:13
= Therefore,
take up (aor imp. which demands immediate
action) the full armor of God, that
you may be able (have the
necessary power) to resist (stand
against , i.e. not become a battlefield casualty, if you are injured, stand
back up and resume the fight, don't lay there and play dead) in
the evil day (any day that you
are awake when things are at their worst),
and having done everything, (max utilization of the resources - DVPT)
to stand firm.
1) You have to put on this armor;
2) And you have to
decide to stand against Satan, by not becoming a "friend of the world."
Jas. 4:4
3) What Paul is
saying here is that if we have responded to the commands of Scripture making
the necessary adjustments for the warfare, putting on the armor, then one is
able to stand firm even in the face of a ruthless foe.
e.
The
description of this armor is that it is composed of Truth and righteousness
(experiential).
1) The first part
of the armor establishes the importance of the knowledge and belief of God's Word
i.e. the Word in you believed.
2) And the second
part is not self-righteousness but obedience to God's Word, walking the
Straight and Narrow of dvpt.
3) TRUTH +
APPLICATION = EXPERIENCIAL RIGHTEOUSNESS (personal integrity as a Believer)
f.
The
armor is designed to give you stability during the warfare vs:
15 = and
having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
g.
The
truth from God is able to handle any situation: vs:16 = in
addition to all, taking up the shield of faith (faith in action; BD + positive
volition) with which you will be able
to extinguish all flaming missiles of the evil one.
h.
The basis for our ability to "wage war"
in the conflict comes from Eternal Security and knowledge of the Word of
God.
1) Our protection
rests in our Eternal Security, that is in the One who
provides it and guarantees it.
2) Our offensive
weapon is the Word of God.
3) Jesus set the
example or pattern when He was tempted in using the Word of God to handle the
temptation of Satan
and so must we if we're to
handle the tests and temptations of life in our niche.
4) Remember it is
the Holy Spirit who makes the Word in you alive and powerful so that you are
able to put it into operation. It’s the sword of the Spirit. (
i. Your prayers are essential weapons in the Conflict.