Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 18

 We are a Holy People and a Spiritual House to our Father God

1 Peter 2:4-5 To whom coming, as unto a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

In the previous three verses of Scripture, we learned that our only way to have the 'life of Christ' rule and reign within us is by our devouring His Word like a baby does his or her Mother's milk. Now the Apostle tells us why it is so important for us to feast on the Word of God, because it is Christ and Him alone who lived the only accpetable human life in the sight of God the Father that none of the rest of we sinful human beings could ever live, then He took upon Himself our sinful lives dying on the Cross ➕ paying our enormous sin debt that we could never pay off by any so called good works or good deeds of our own and then He resurrected (bodily) from the dead. Paul wrote these words to the Colossian Church ⛪, "And He is the head of the Body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18 (NKJV). Having said all of this as our introduction if you will, the Apostle Peter (just like Paul) wants us to know that our Lord Jesus Christ is everything or as Paul declared above preeminent, so Peter writes, "To whom coming, as unto a Living Stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5) (KJV). Our Lord Jesus Christ was the first human being to come back alive from the dead. Even though He is God, He is man or human just like us, therefore, He is the Living Stone rejected, refused, and resisted by many, but those of us who receive Him receive from Him all of the resurrection life within our inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩 that He has and that He is, as it is written, "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?'" (John 11:25-26) (NKJV). All human beings come from Adam and are united with Adam by the sinful nature he passed down to each and every human being that has ever lived, that is living now, and that will live in the future, however, not all human beings from the past, present, or future will be united with Jesus Christ except they repent and receive Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Here is what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church ⛪, "And so it is written, 'The first man Adam became a living being.' The last Adam (Jesus Christ) became a life-giving spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:45) (NKJV). Here is what John Wesley had to say of 1 Peter 2:4, "To whom coming - By faith. As unto a living stone - Living from eternity; alive from the dead. There is a wonderful beauty and energy in these expressions, which describe Christ as a spiritual foundation, solid, firm, durable; and believers as a building erected upon it, in preference to that temple which the Jews accounted their highest glory. And St. Peter speaking of Him thus, shows he did not judge himself, but Christ, to be the rock on which the Church was built. Rejected indeed by men - Even at this day, not only by Jews, Turks, heathens, infidels; but by all Christians, so called, who live in sin, or who hope to be saved by their own works. But chosen of God - From all eternity, to be the foundation of His Church. And precious - In Himself, in the sight of God, and in the eyes of all believers."

What is true of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is, of His humanity is also true of us His adopted sons and daughters, for at the very moment of our salvation we became His workmanship, as written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk/live in them." (Ephesians 2:8-10) (NKJV). So we can furthermore understand why the Apostle Peter uses the English word 'lively' stones in 1 Peter 2:5 to describe each one of us and this word is translated by the Greek word zaō a primary verb; meaning to live (literally or figuratively): - life, lively, quicken. It is the same word used above in verse 4 describing our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, just as Christ was resurrected bodily from the grave or physical death, so are we true believers resurrected from spiritual death that is, separation from God when we are born again or begotten again by the hearing of the Gospel and the quickening Power of the Holy Spirit. We are at that very moment then 'are built up' and this little English phrase is translated by the Greek word oikodomeō meaning to be a house builder, that is, construct or (figuratively) confirm: - build up, edify, embolden. What sort of house is being constructed? A 'spiritual' house and this English word is translated by the Greek word pneumatikos meaning non-carnal, that is, (humanly) ethereal (as opposed to gross), or (divinely) supernatural, regenerate, religious: - spiritual. The English word 'acceptable' is translated by the Greek word euprosdektos meaning well received, that is, approved, favorable: - accepted. We born again sons and daughters of our Father in Heaven are being built into a new house/body (having been regenerated to newness of life) capable of offering up to Him worship that is true, well received, approved, and honoring Him by and because of our union with The Living Stone Jesus Christ, just as the Apostle Paul reminds us what type of living sacrifices we as sons & daughters of God should be and should live in our houses/tents/bodies, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:1-2) (NKJV). Here is what Alexander MacLaren had to say of 1 Peter 2:5, "‘I beseech you, by the mercies of God, that ye present’—which is a technical word for a priest’s action—’your bodies a living sacrifice,’ in contrast with the slaying, which was the presentation of the animal victim. Now, that ‘body’ there is not equivalent to self is distinctly seen when we notice that Paul goes on, in the very next clause, to say, ‘and be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ So that he is speaking, not of the self, but of the corporeal organ and instrument of the self, when he says ‘present your bodies a living sacrifice.’ Of course, the central idea of sacrifice is surrender to God; and, of course, the place where that surrender is made is the inmost self. The will is the man, and when the will bows, dethroning self and enthroning God, submitting to His appointments, and delighting to execute His commandments, then the sacrifice is begun. But, inasmuch as the body is the organ of the man’s activity, the sacrifice of the will and of self must needs come out into visibility and actuality in the aggregate of deeds, of which the body is the organ and instrument. But there must first of all be the surrender of my inmost self, and only then, and as the token and outcome of that, will any external acts, however religious they may seem to be, come into the category of sacrifice when they express a conscious surrender of myself to God. ‘The flesh profiteth nothing,’ and yet the flesh profiteth much. But here is the order that another of the Apostles lays down: ‘Yield yourselves to God,’ and then, ‘your members as instruments of righteousness to Him.’ To speak of the sacrifice of the body as a living sacrifice suggests that it is not the slaying of any bodily appetite or activity that is the true sacrifice and worship, but the hallowing of these. It is a great deal easier, and it is sometimes necessary, to cut off the offending right hand, to pluck out the offending right eye, or, putting away the metaphor, to abstain rigidly from forms of activity which are perfectly legitimate in themselves, and may be innocuous to other people, if we find that they hurt us. But that is second best, and though it is better in the judgment of common sense to go into life maimed than complete to be cast into hell-fire, it is better still to go into life symmetrical and entire, with no maiming in hand or organ. So you do not offer the living sacrifice of the body when you annihilate, but when you suppress, and direct, and hallow its needs, its appetites, and its activities. The meaning of this sacrifice is that the whole active life should be based upon, and be the outcome of, the inward surrender of self unto God. ‘On the bells of the horses shall be written, Holiness to the Lord, and every pot and vessel in Jerusalem shall be holy as the bowls upon the altar’—in such picturesque and yet profound fashion did an ancient prophet set forth the same truth that lies in this declaration of our Apostle, that the body, the instrument of our activities, should be a living sacrifice to God. Link all its actions with Him; let there be conscious reference to Him in all that I do. Let foot and hand and eye and brain work for Him, and by Him, and in constant consciousness of His presence; suppress where necessary, direct always, appetites and passions, and make the body the instrument of the surrendered spirit. And then, in the measure in which we can do so, the greatest cleft and discord in human life will be filled, and body, soul, and spirit will harmonise and make one music of praise to God."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

The Wanderer

 Proverbs 27:8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who strays from his home.

We could see this verse of scripture from a practical point of view as we travail down here upon this earth, but I think the Lord Jesus Christ is giving us a very important spiritual lesson. I personally have observed on quite a few occasions a bird not yet full grown and ready and capable of surviving on its own out of its nest.  

The site is very distressing and tears at your heart strings. The tiny bird out of its nest is confused, helpless, and in extreme peril. It chirps and chirps calling for its mother not knowing or understanding where he is or what has happened to his surroundings.  

Everything is strange and unfamiliar to his sight, sound, and touch. Anxiety quickens his tiny heart rate to a fever pitch as if it were going to leap out of his small chest. Danger lurks on every side of the little creature.

It does not matter how he got in the situation, but that the situation now has become desperate. His nest was a place of safety and security. Now he is wandering about lost not being able to fly yet and therefore, not knowing how to get back to his nest (the place of safety and security).  

Such is every man or woman in Christ who wanders from the sure safety and security of His love and obedience to His Word.  

John 14:15 If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. (Quick Amplified Bible)  

This does not refer only to the ten commandments, but to every word that God the Holy Spirit spoke through each pen of the holy Apostles in the entire New Testament. Christ has come and called all of His followers to a far higher plain or level of living than just the Old Testament Law. Christ Law of love must produce a heart in love with doing His will.  

It is not a changed heart that obeys out of some perceived forced obligation, but on the contrary, a heart filled with love for Him and His words penned by the Apostles. Remember when our Lord responded to one who came to Him with news that His earthly Mother, Brother, and Sisters wanted to see Him.  

Matthew 12:48-50 But He replied to the man who told Him, Who is My mother, and who are My brothers? And stretching out His hand toward [not only the twelve disciples but all] His adherents, He said, Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother! (Quick Amplified Bible)  

This probably (at that time) seemed to be very harsh, uncaring, and unloving words spoken by our Lord to everyone present, but He was emphasizing the steadfastness and single minded resolve it takes to be a true follower of His.  

This type of heart and mind is what we need to keep us from falling into a position to allow ourselves to wander. The Apostle Peter warned us to be wary of this happening in our hearts and lives also.  

2 Peter 3:17 Let me warn you therefore, beloved, that knowing these things beforehand, you should be on your guard, lest you be carried away by the error of lawless and wicked [persons and] fall from your own [present] firm condition [your own steadfastness of mind]. (Quick Amplified Bible)  

You see this is a real danger that we must all recognize and guard our hearts and minds continually from the constant temptation from the enemy (the devil, working through evil people) to wander away from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We are going to have tribulation, trouble, test, as long as we are in this evil world, but in the Lord Jesus Christ we have overcome the world, our flesh, and the devil.  

This world system, our fallen nature, and the devil and his wicked spiritual host are continually pulling and tugging at the followers of Christ saying “Come on over here its much better, a lot more fun”, but it is our responsibility to resist (fight, strive, and battle) in Christ strength of course. We must acknowledge our utter helplessness and weakness without Him. His strength works best in weakness. That's what Christ told the Apostle Paul when he (Paul) was given a thorn in his flesh.  

2 Corinthians 12:9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (Quick Amplified Bible)  

Paul was a man that I don't believe anyone (from reading the words given to him in Scripture) could say that he strayed or wandered from the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wrote in Romans 8 that nothing could separate him or any of us from the love of God that is found in Christ Jesus.  

However, the Lord Jesus Christ knowing what is in man and that includes everyman (even the Apostle Paul) allows us to receive thorns or attacks from the enemy (the devil) so as to keep us humble before Him (totally dependent on Him) and for us not to be exalted above measure. The Lord Jesus Christ is not going to make our daily choice of activities (what we watch or listen to) for us, but He wants to guide us into all truth.  

Not by force, of course, but by our willingness to be obedient. For example, a young boy is at an amusement park and there are many different rides for him to choose from and he has choices that he alone must make as to which ones he will ride. Now he can listen to the suggestion of some of his friends, but ultimately the decision is his and his alone.  

This is the way of every true follower of the Lord Jesus Christ daily. The Lord Jesus gives us a guide or (if you please to bring it up to today’s vernacular) a GPS system through His Word, but it is up to us to listen and heed what we read.  

What is outside of being obedient to the Word of God? Well, of course, it never means a loss of our salvation, but it does mean broken fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We grieve the Holy Spirit and cause Him to be silent or distant from our hearts. He never leaves, but He just withdraws His close presence.  

Now when this happens the Lord Jesus Christ will chasten His children and scourge everyone of His sons and daughters. When you examine the Old Testament in detail, you find that the children of Israel were constantly going through this cycle of rebellion which brought on chastening by the Lord. However, the Lord always sent a prophet to the children of Israel warning them to repent or else judgment would be handed down. They in most all of the occasions rejected the prophet and his words from the Lord because they had gotten so far away from Him and obedience to His Word. God does not take pleasure in judging , but He must because of  His nature. Judgment is God's strange work that He must perform because of His holiness.  

Isaiah 28:21 For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim, He will be wrathful as in the Valley of Gibeon, that He may do His work, His strange work, and bring to pass His act, His strange act. (Quick Amplified Bible)  

He desires to bless His children and not to punish them. But as a responsible earthly father whips his children when they do wrong, even more so does our Heavenly Father whip His children in order that they may partake in His holiness. The Lord Jesus Christ pleaded through His profits to the children of Israel over and over and over and yet on so many occasions they would not heed and His judgment was the only recourse left. When the Lord Jesus Christ descended from the Mount of Olives down into the city of Jerusalem just prior to His crucifixion, He lamented over the city.  

Matthew 23:37-38 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a mother fowl gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused! Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate (abandoned and left destitute of God's help). (Quick Amplified Bible)  

Even as He was facing the most horrific thing imaginable (the cross) Christ was not concerned for Himself, but instead He wept over the city of Jerusalem knowing what was going to befall them (another judgment; His strange work) only 40 short years in the future. Likewise today and throughout the centuries the Lord Jesus laments when He has to chasten any of His children because He prefers to give grace rather than discipline.  

What have we discovered? 1) When we wander from the love of God in Christ Jesus we open ourselves to the enemy (the devil) and we are vulnerable to his attacks. 2) We force the Lord's chastening hand to be administered to us. This also ties in with number one, because the Lord Jesus will allow the enemy (the devil) to attack His children as a form of discipline. 3) We are utterly helpless and weak when we are away from the Lord's protection. 4) Without totally being obedient to the Lord Jesus and His Word we can do nothing.  

Finally, What must we do? 1) No matter what the reason for our wandering, we must repent and come back to the safety of abiding totally in the Lord Jesus Christ. 2) Absolutely cling to the Lord Jesus moment by moment daily and feast upon His Word like a starving man would physical food. 3) Be totally transparent with the Lord Jesus Christ in our prayers, because He already knows all the truth. We might as well confess what He already knows about each of us.  Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes his sins will obtain mercy. (Quick Amplified Bible) 4) We must just simply love the Lord Jesus with all our hearts. When this is true there will never be a desire to wander from the complete safety which is only found in Him and His love.  

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 17

 Consume the Word of God as Food for Your Soul

1 Peter 2:1-3 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

The Apostle Peter now tells them and us that because we have been born again or begotten again by the incorruptible seed of the Word of God, then we are to respond by devouring the Word of God as food for our inner man 👨 and inner woman 👩, as it is written, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (1 Peter 2:1-3) (KJV). In so doing, we should be as Peter puts it 'laying aside' things that are so common, callous, and cunning in our old nature. This English phrase 'laying aside' is translated by the Greek word apotithēmi meaning to put away (literally or figuratively): - cast off, lay apart (aside, down), put away (off). We have no ability to do this in our own strength, but we can be strengthened with the mighty power of our Father in Heaven just as the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers with these words, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19) (NKJV). The only way we can be filled with all the fullness of God is to feast on His Word just as Peter says above that we may grow thereby. When a new born baby enters into the world through his or her Mother's womb, that baby has no side agenda, only that he or she desires their Mother's milk as their number one priority, likewise as newly born again spiritual babies 🤱in the family 👪 of God the Father so must every son and daughter of God desire the consumption of His Word daily in big doses that just as the human baby grows up into a strong child 🧒, so will the born again son or daughter grow up spiritually by the Word of God.

The Apostle Peter tells us of five (5) things that need to be put away or cast away from us that can so regularly come from our old man 👨 or old woman 👩. The first is 'malice' and this English word is translated by the Greek word kakia meaning badness, that is, (subjectively) depravity, or (actively) malignity, or (passively) trouble: - evil, naughtiness, wickedness. This is common in every human heart and cannot be subdued except by the Power of God. It is why there have been numerous wars over the centuries and many violent acts perpetrated by humans on other humans from the first murder commited by Cain against his own brother (Genesis 4:8) and this badness, malignity, and depravity continues in the same manner right up to this very day of May 5, 2024 just check the news at the end of this day. The second is 'guile' and this English word is translated by the Greek word dolos meaning to decoy; a trick (bait), that is, (figuratively) wile: - craft, deceit, guile, subtilty. If we are true regenerate brothers and sisters 'in Christ' there should never be a cause or reason for us to trick or deceive our brother or sister 'in Christ' which is completely against the nature and character of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle Peter will say later on in this very same Chapter verse 22. The Psalmist (King David) writes these words that should be the desire of every man 👨 and woman 👩 belonging to our Lord Jesus Christ, "Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit." (Psalms 32:2) (NKJV). The third is 'hypocrisies' and this English word is translated by the Greek word hupokrisis meaning acting under a feigned part; that is, (figuratively) deceit: - condemnation, dissimulation, hypocrisy. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of hypocrisies, "The word being plural comprehends all sorts of hypocrisies. In matters of religion hypocrisy is counterfeit piety. In civil conversation hypocrisy is counterfeit friendship, which is much practised by those who give high compliments, which they do not believe, make promises which they never intend to perform, or pretend friendship when mischief lies in their hearts." The fourth is 'envies' which is translated by the Greek word phthonos meaning ill will (as detraction), that is, jealousy (spite): - envy. The Proverbs says this about envy, "A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones." Proverbs 14:30 (NKJV). Envy is one of those self harming sins that come from the old nature and destroys the person from the inside out. Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of envy, "Every thing that may be called envy, which is a grieving at the good and welfare of another, at their abilities, prosperity, fame, or successful labours."

The fifth is 'evil speakings' which is translated by the Greek word katalalia meaning defamation: - backbiting, evil speaking. This definition explains itself, wherein, it is when any person wants to besmirch the character of another amongst others in order to make them appear bad, when in actuality they are not. It  is done to ruin a persons character and good name. Since all true believers have tasted the goodness of our God in the soul, we should not allow ourselves to yield ourselves back to our old nature for any reasons, but instead we must feed upon the Word of God that the life of Christ may be dominant within us as He said we must do with these words, "Then Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.'" (John 6:53-58) (NKJV). Our Lord Jesus Christ was not speaking here of His literal flesh and blood, but symbolically of His Word, as He is the Word of God made manifest or visible in the flesh (John 1:14), therefore, He is telling us that we must feast upon Him by devouring His Word daily and in so doing we will abide in Him and He in us. Amen! Here is what the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary has to say of inner man 👨 or inward man 👨, "Component of human personality responsive tothe requirements of the law. According to Paul's understanding (Rom. 7:22-23), human personality has three components: (1) the inmost self where the law dwells; Paul equated this with reason (nous, vs. 23); the inmost self approximates the rabbinic yetser hatov (inclination to good); (2) the members or the flesh that is responsive to desire; the flesh approximates the rabbinic yetser hara' (inclination to evil); and (3) the conscious 'I' which is aware of both reason and desire. In rabbinic thought, the law served to tip the balance in favor of the good inclination. Paul, however, rejected this optimistic view of the law. Only the Spirit dwelling in the inner self can free the individual from the power of sin (Romans 8:2; Ephesians 3:16)."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…