1 Peter 5
Even apart from the end time suffering the church will experience, believers must face their 3 great enemies:
i. The world.
Christian leaders are tempted to act like the world and kind of lord it over God's people; but leaders are shepherds, and sheep must be led, not driven.
Our service must be willing and humble.
We must be eager to help others.
ii. The flesh.
By nature we do not want to submit to others.
The phrase 'clothed with humility' reminds us of our Saviour when He wore a towel and washed Peter's feet.
If we are submitted to the Lord, we will submit to His people.
Humility leads to honour; pride leads to shame.
Iii. The devil.
The devil is an adversary – not a friend.
He is a roaring lion – not a playful pet.
He wants to devour you and you had better be on guard.
Peter thought that he is well able to defeat the enemy so he did not heed the Lord's warning.
The results were failure and shame.
You can resist Satan by faith if you're wearing the armour and trusting the Spirit.
2 Peter 1
Brief Overview
When the apostle wrote this book, he was conscious that death was near and that the church was in danger for false teachers were creeping in.
He urged the believers to hold to the precious Word and grow spiritually, and to identified and shun false teachers, and to keep the promise of Christ's return uppermost in their hearts.
He stressed spiritual knowledge that comes from God's Word.
2 Peter 1
You'll have power for the present.
When you trust Christ, He will give all you need for life and Godliness.
All you have to do is appropriate what you need from His resources.
His Word feeds the divine nature within.
And you can grow in knowledge and in grace.
This is not automatic – you must be diligent to use the means of grace that god has provided.
You'll have assurance from the past.
Peter would be martyred soon, so he took occasion to remind readers that they could trust the Word of God.
Although Peter's experience on the Mount of Transfiguration was wonderful – my friend, experiences are not a substitute for the unchanging Word of God.
And you'll have hope for the future.
The Word is a light in this dark world, pointing to the return of the Lord.
Private interpretation means no prophecy should be isolated from the rest of Scripture, or interpreted apart from the leading of the Spirit who gave it to us.
The Spirit wrote one book and it must be understood as a whole.
Believers may differ on individual matters of prophecy, but they all agree on the one hope – and that is Jesus is coming again!
And He's coming soon.
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