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FreeWay Foundation            September 14, 2012

 

 

Called to bless others

(I Peter 3:1-22)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Peter instructed wives to be submissive to their husbands, vv. 1-6.

            2.  Peter instructed husbands to give their wives honor; such mutual respect will keep

                 a couple's prayers from being hindered, v. 7.

            3.  Peter instructed that believers are called to bless others, vv. 8-17.

            4.  Peter explained some details about Christ's suffering, vv. 18-22.

II.  Meditation:  on the traits of persons who are "called to bless others"

            1.  Thoughts – be of one mind, in spiritual accord, in harmony, in agreement in unity, v. 8.

            2.  Emotions – hearts full of compassion, love, tenderness, and courtesy, v. 8.

            3.  Actions – always courteous, exhibiting polite treatment of others, with dignity and

                 respect, v. 8.

            4.  Words – not returning evil for evil nor reviling for reviling, v. 9.

                 (Reville = to abuse with reproachful and contemptuous language.)

III.  Observations:  on being a blessing to others, vv. 9-14.

            1.  Christians are called to do this, v. 9.

            2.  Blessing others allows you to inherit your own spiritual blessing, v. 9.

            3.  It opens the Lord's ear to your prayers, vv. 10-12.

            4.  Even suffering for righteousness' sake is a blessing, vv. 13-14.

IV.  Revelation:  on the implications of blessing and being blessed

            1.  To bless others, I need to share a degree of spiritual harmony with them.

            2.  To bless others, I need to be motivated by a heart of sincere love.

            3.  To bless others, I need to guard my words . . . speaking only those things which

                 edify others.

            4.  The cycle of blessing:

                        1)  I am blessed by God,

                        2)  I begin blessing others,

                        3)  More blessings are poured out upon me, as God answers my

                             prayers for blessings upon others,

                        4)  Persecution will arise, which leads to # 1 . . . I am blessed by God.

V.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  "Sanctify" the Lord God in my heart . . . set Him apart from all other concerns; make my

                 number one priority:  "Jesus is Lord."

            2.  Always be ready to bless someone by giving a testimony of the hope God has given me.

            3.  Witness of God's blessings on me with "meekness" . . . I do not deserve His blessings, and

                 with "fear" . . . reverent worship in awe of His love, mercy, and grace.

            4.  Live and speak righteously so I will have a good conscience and so that Christ's enemies

                 may be ashamed.

 

 

 

Ministering god's gifts

(I Peter 4:1-19)

Dr. Curt Scarborough

 

I.  Concentration:  on the contents of this chapter

            1.  Peter taught that since Christ willingly suffered for us, we should be of the same mindset, vv. 1-6.

            2.  Peter urged believers to love one another, without grumbling, vv. 7-9.

II.  Meditation:  on God's gifts to mankind, v. 10.

            1.  They are given freely and according to God's sovereign will.

            2.  They are to be received as a "gift" . . . with thanksgiving.

            3.  They are to be shared with others ("minister it" and "as good stewards").

            4.  They are many and varied ("manifold = many colored").

III.  Observations:  on the two basic types of God's gifts, v. 10

            1.  Speaking – preaching, teaching, witnessing, prophesying.

            2.  Those Christians who have the basic gift of oral communications should speak with authority

                 as "oracles of God."

            3.  Ministering – serving, doing good works, actively helping, praying.

            4.  Those Christians who have the basic gift of ministering should serve others with the divine

                 abilities supplied by God.

IV.  Meditations:  on why believers should exercise God's gifts

            1.  That in all things God may be glorified by the believers, v. 11.

            2.  That, even in sufferings, believers may be glad with exceeding joy, v. 13.

            3.  That believers may perceive persecution, not as a strange, unexpected thing (v.. 12), but as

                 an opportunity to honor God according to His sovereign will, vv. 13-16, 19.

            4.  That believers might be blameless servants of the Lord, exhibiting righteousness at the day

                 of judgment, vv. 17-18.

V.  Applications:  as a Christian, I need to . . .

            1.  Realize that all I am, all I have, and all I can be are gifts from God.

            2.  Value someone else's gift as highly as I value my own spiritual gift . . .because God is the giver,

                 and He gives only good gifts to man, Ephesians 4:7-8; James 1:17.

            3.  Rejoice in the Lord always . . . even in persecution and suffering.

            4.  Faithfully live for Christ, with sincerity and integrity, so that others may see God's hand working

                 through me, and give glory to Him, Matthew 5:16.

 

"Blessed is the man, who having nothing to say,

abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact."

--George Eliot (1819-1880)

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