Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 32

 Suffering for Jesus Part 2

1 Peter 3:9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. (KJV) Note: NKJV= New King James Version

In the previous verse, the Apostle Peter commanded those early Jewish converts/believers to our Lord Jesus Christ (who were scattered into various other parts of the world because of persecution) to love one another and have compassion for one another and to be of one mind. Now he continues on into informing/commanding them and we true believers today and of every era and generation of the things that we are not to do among one another as members or parts of the Mystical Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, as it is written, "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." (1 Peter 3:9)(KJV). It is a reality and fact that although those early Jewish believers and all we true believers are born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God as the Apostle has already declared to them and to us in 1 Peter 1:23, yet we still have the corruptible seed of our 'old man 👨' and 'old woman👩' within us, thereby requiring us to consciously put to death the filthy deeds of our flesh/old nature, as it is written by the Apostle Paul with these words, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13)(NKJV) and also these words, "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5)(NKJV). It is not enough that we actively love 😍 one another, but we must also actively defend against the corruption of the old nature still remaining in us, for both must work jointly in order for us to treat one another as our Lord Jesus Christ desires to among us when we are with one another (this certainly goes for us in the real world 🗺, but now because of social media it is just as true with our Lord Jesus that we behave such toward one another in the virtual world as well) or do you think that Christ ignores the written evil words? I am constantly in prayer and repentance over responding inappropriately to a threat or attack against me from non-believers because that is what I have within my 'old nature', so all that I write here concerning the way we should behave with our brethren and sisteren 'in Christ', and those outside of Christ I am speaking to myself first and foremost, although I know that all of my sin rest on the Mercy Seat in Heaven covered by the Blood of Christ Jesus my Lord, it is always a cutting 'ramah', that is word from the Word for me when I read or hear these words spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ, "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)(NKJV). I have been guilty of speaking to many useless and idle words that will bring me great shame in the presence of my Lord Jesus Christ at the Bema Seat. The English word 'rendering' used by the Apostle Peter in verse 9 is translated by the Greek word apodidōmi, meaning to pay back or to deliver back and this is exactly what I have done to many times when provoked by the evil one😈and the human instruments under his control, company, and command. I pray for myself and for any other brothers and sisters in Christ struggling in this area that we would come all the way back to our first love 😍 whenever we leave His loving embrace and to continue abiding 'in Him' as He declares that we must do with these words, "You are already clean because of the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me." (John 15:3-4)(NKJV). When we are obedient to these words from our Lord Jesus Christ, then no vile filthy words or actions from the devil👿and his two-legged devils will cause us to react or respond with idle words that are of no profit to us spiritually nor to the two-legged devils spewing said vile filty words to us or at us. Let us listen carefully to the following Proverb and meditate upon it mulling it over and over in our minds, "Do not say, 'I will recompense evil'; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you." (Proverbs 20:22)(NKJV). Amen!!!

Here is what Dr. John Gill had to say of 1 Peter 3:9, "Not rendering evil for evil,.... Doing an ill thing in return to one that has done ill to you, and in a way of revenge for it; which is contrary to what is before advised to, and which is taking God's prerogative and work out of His hands, whose vengeance is, and which is to be overcome of evil: or railing for railing; returning ill language to such as have given it, but rather should imitate Christ, who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, 1 Peter 2:23 and whose advice is, instead of returning injuries, blows, or words, to turn to him that smites on the right check the other also and to bless them that curse, do good to them that hate, and pray for them that persecute, Matthew 5:39 and which is here directed to: but contrariwise blessing; praying for a blessing on them; for if we are to do so for our enemies, for them that hate us, despitefully use and persecute us, as did Christ, Stephen the protomartyr, and the Apostles, then much more our fellow Christians who may do us an injury or speak evil of us, or to us: who seem to be chiefly intended: the argument to persuade to it follows, knowing that ye are thereunto called; referring either to what goes before being called by grace to the discharge of all the above duties exhorted to, and particularly to suffer patiently all injuries and affronts; and instead of making returns in the same way, to bless and pray for those that have hurt us, either by words or deeds; see 1 Peter 2:20 or to what follows, that ye should inherit a blessing; temporal blessing or blessings; for godliness has the promise of this life and godly persons shall not want any good thing; and even while the blessings of others are cursed they have their outward mercies with a blessing, and they are blessings indeed to them; wherefore, the little they may have is better than the large affluence of others: and also spiritual blessing, or blessings; such as peace of conscience, the pardon of all their sins a justifying righteousness adopting grace, all supplies of grace from Christ, His presence and communion with Him: and also an eternal one, even life for evermore; called so, because it springs from the free favour, good will, and blessing of God, and which its being an inheritance also shows; and because such that enjoy it are eternally and unspeakably happy." Here is what the Expositor's Bible Commentary had to say of 1 Peter 3:9, "It is manifest that if such harmony, kind feeling, attachment, affection, and humility flourished among believers, these virtues would put discord to the rout, and leave no occasion for rending the oneness of the Christian body. They would also be proof against evil from without, both in deed and speech, neither tempted to 'render evil for evil' in their actions nor 'reviling for reviling' in their words. They have a duty to the world, and cannot thus belie their Christian profession. They are called to adorn the doctrine of their Savior, and the Master’s Sermon has among its prominent precepts 'Bless them that curse you.' This is the spirit of St. Peter’s exhortation, 'But contrariwise blessing'; that is, Be ye of those who bless. For there is a law of recompense with God in good things as in evil; the blessers shall be blessed: 'For hereunto were ye called, that ye should inherit a blessing.' It is as though he urged them thus: Ye were aforetime enemies of God; but ye have been made partakers of His heavenly calling, (Hebrews 3:1) that ye may come to blessing. This should move you to bless your enemies. And more than this, the servant of God may receive no blessing from the world, may get curses for his blessing; but yet he knows where to flee for consolation. He can pray with the Psalmist, 'Let them curse, but bless Thou,' (Psalm 109:28) conscious that the Lord will stand at the right hand of the needy.'"

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…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 31

 Suffering for Jesus Part 1

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: KJV Note: MKJV=Modern King James Version

The Apostle Peter now turns his attention to addressing the very cause of why these Jewish converts (brethren and sisteren) to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ were scattered about in the world having to leave their homes in Jerusalem because of the intense and even murderous persecution from other Jews who were still spiritually dead. First, the Apostle wants to remind them of how they should treat one another during these times, as he writes, "Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:" (1 Peter 3:8) (KJV). The need for all true believers (not make believers) to be 'of one mind' (and this little English phrase used only one time in the New Testament is translated by the Greek word homophrōn meaning to be like minded, that is, harmonious: - of one mind and also the English phrase 'having compassion one of another' is translated by the Greek word sumpathēs used this one time only in the New Testament meaning having a fellow feeling ('sympathetic'), that is, (by implication) mutually commiserative: - having compassion one of another and also the English phrase 'love as brethren' is translated by the Greek word philadelphos used also this one time only in the New Testament meaning fond of brethren, that is, fraternal: - love as brethren) is critical during times of persecution by those who are without any faith in Christ or without true faith in Christ, just as Paul the Apostle wrote to the brethren and sisteren in Thessaloniki with these words seeking their love 😍, comfort and support during his times of affliction, adversity, and animus from unbelieving Jews and Gentiles, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil." (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3) (MKJV). The desire of the devil 👿 as he works through the human instruments under his control is to bring so much turmoil, tumult, and trouble in the path of we true believers in order that he may use these things to hinder us (1 Thessalonians 2:18) from our assignment by our Father in Heaven and cause delay, disturbance, and even destruction of the things our Lord Jesus Christ has commended us to do for His glory and for the edification of the Body His the Church ⛪, for the enemy knows that there is nothing that he can do to separate us from our Father in Heaven as Paul the Apostle reminded all of us with these words, "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39) (MKJV), so the devil works through physical and spiritual means to obstruct the work of God through those who are his (the devil's)sons and daughters. This is why you see such popularity with the false prophets/profits and false teachers because the 'god of this world' (2 Corinthians 4:4) has no need to cause them to be handicapped in spreading their false gospel and false message which cannot save any sinful soul.

Here is what the Expositors' Bible Commentary had to say of 1 Peter 3:8, "The Apostle now ceases from his special admonitions, and enforces generally such qualities and conduct as must mark all who fear the Lord. 'Finally,' he says-and the word may indicate the close of his counsels; but the virtues which he inculcates are of so important a character that he may very well intend them as the apex and crown of all his previous advice - 'be ye all likeminded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tenderhearted, humble-minded.' St. Peter has here grouped together a number of epithets of which all but one are only used in the New Testament by himself, and they are of that graphic character which is so conspicuous in all the Apostle’s language. 'Like-minded.' If the word be not there, the spirit is largely exemplified in the early history of the Church. How often we hear the phrase, 'with one accord,' in the opening chapters of the Acts. Thus the disciples continued in prayer; (Acts 1:14) thus they went daily to the temple; (Acts 2:46) thus they lifted up their voices to God, (Acts 4:24) for all they that believed were of one heart and one soul. (Acts 4:32) Such lives exhibit harmony of thought, the same aim and purpose. The men may not, will not, always use the same means or follow the same methods, but they will all be seeking one result. Such unity is worth more than uniformity. 'Compassionate.' This feeling St. Paul describes (Romans 12:15) as rejoicing with them that do rejoice and weeping with them that weep. For the times of this life are not always sorrowful, though the best of them are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed. (Romans 8:18) 'Loving as brethren.' The sense of the brotherhood of Christians is strongly marked in all the New Testament Scriptures. It is the name by which our Lord claims fellowship with men, being not ashamed to call them brethren. It is the designation of the Christian body from the first, (Matthew 23:8) is constantly found in the Acts and the Epistles, (Acts 6:3-9, Acts 11:29) and has been used of the Church in every age, marking how as one family we dwell in Him. Next comes the word which is not St. Peter’s alone: 'Tenderhearted.' St. Paul has it, (Ephesians 4:32) but it is no Greek notion. It was a Jewish idea that deep feeling was closely connected with some of the organs of the body; and in the Old Testament, as in the story of Joseph (Genesis 43:30) and elsewhere, (1Kings 3:26) we come upon such phrases as 'His bowels did yearn upon his brother.' This Hebrew notion the LXX has conveyed into Greek by the word which St. Peter here uses, and which those translators had used and consecrated long before. For them so exalted was the thought contained in it that they employ it in the prayer of Manasses (1Peter 3:7) to express the tenderness of God towards the penitent, the yearning love of the Father, who sees the prodigal afar off, and has compassion. 'Humble-minded.' This word and those akin to it are almost a New Testament creation. The heathen had no admiration for the temper it expresses, and where they do use the word it is in a bad sense as signifying 'cowardly' and 'mean-spirited.' Before Christ none had taught, 'He that is greatest among you shall be your servant.' (Matthew 23:11).

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…

Peter Exhorts the Persecuted Believers Volume 30

 Christian Husband's in the Home 🏡

1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. KJV Note: MKJV=Modern King James Version

Now the Apostle Peter closes out his discourse on the Christian home with these words of wisdom to the husband, "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." (1 Peter 3:7) (KJV). The fact that God has made the order in the Christian home 🏡 as the husband being the head of the home 🏡, certainly by no means does this mean a dictatorship or a 👑 monarchy. As we declared in the last commentary/bible study, these words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthian Church lays out the order of Divine Headship all the way from the Throne of God down to the husband in the Christian home 🏡, as it is written, "But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God." (1 Corinthians 11:3) (MKJV). If Christ is the head of every Christian man 👨 (which means the authority over), then that Christian man/husband's life should reflect or bear the image of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ to his Christian wife just as Christ has already sacrificed Himself for His bride 👰, the Church ⛪, and He continues to love her sacrificially, so must be the design, desire, and determination of the Christian husband for his Christian wife. The daily motivation of the Christian husband in the home 🏡, must be the attitude, aim, and action of how can I love her more today than I did yesterday. Also, a life of continual repentance before Christ (his head) as well as continual repentance before his Christian wife for the many sins he committs against her in word and deed, remembering these words of our Lord Jesus when He said, "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him." (Luke 17:4 (MKJV). The Christian wife would love 😍 submitting to the husband with this constant 🔥 fiery desire within his inner man 👨 which will only be kept flaming by him not quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:19). As Christ continues His work in the inner man of the Christian husband, he should respond, reply, and react to his Christian wife completely opposite of what the world 🗺 says is required, for the life of the Christian husband toward and for his Christian wife should follow the pattern of these words written by the Apostle Paul to the Church ⛪@Ephesus, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it, that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present it to Himself as the glorious church, without spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that it should be holy and without blemish. So men ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord loves the Church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two of them shall be one flesh.' This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. But also let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, and the wife that she defers to her husband." (Ephesians 5:25-33) (MKJV). Do you see the demand placed upon the Christian husband, he has to be in prayer and the Word of God constantly and contiually to even be on the path or direction of fulfilling these words of Paul and yet he will fail miserably most times or many times, but by the Power of the Holy Spirit he will meet the needs of his Christian wife also many times and cause her to love him more and more and more. This is hard with Christ as your head, but it is impossible withbout Christ in your life. Note: "I failed miserably at two (2) marriages being still at both times dead in trespasses and sin being alienated from the life of God according to the ignorance which was in me during both marriages, however, now I have union with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and I would be a totally different husband than before all because of Him." Amen!!!

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say of 1 Peter 3:7, "The particulars are, (1.) Cohabitation, which forbids unnecessary separation, and implies a mutual communication of goods and persons one to another, with delight and concord. (2.) Dwelling with the wife according to knowledge; not according to lust, as brutes; nor according to passion, as devils; but according to knowledge, as wise and sober men, who know the word of God and their own duty. (3.) Giving honour to the wife - giving due respect to her, and maintaining her authority, protecting her person, supporting her credit, delighting in her conversation, affording her a handsome maintenance, and placing a due trust and confidence in her. 2. The reasons are, Because she is the weaker vessel by nature and constitution, and so ought to be defended: but then the wife is, in other and higher respects, equal to her husband; they are heirs together of the grace of life, of all the blessings of this life and another, and therefore should live peaceably and quietly one with another, and, if they do not, their prayers one with another and one for another will be hindered, so that often 'you will not pray at all, or, if you do, you will pray with a discomposed ruffled mind, and so without success.' Learn, (1.) The weakness of the female sex is no just reason either for separation or contempt, but on the contrary it is a reason for honour and respect: Giving honour to the wife as unto the weaker vessel. (2.) There is an honour due to all who are heirs of the grace of life. (3.) All married people should take care to behave themselves so lovingly and peaceably one to another that they may not by their broils hinder the success of their prayers." Here is what Adam Clarke had to say of 1 Peter 3:7, "Dwell with them according to knowledge - Give your wives, by no species of unkind carriage, any excuse for delinquency. How can a man expect his wife to be faithful to him, if he be unfaithful to her? and vice versa. Giving honor unto the wife - Using your superior strength and experience in her behalf, and thus honouring her by becoming her protector and support. But the word τιμη honor, signifies maintenance as well as respect; - maintain, provide for the wife. As - the weaker vessel - Being more delicately, and consequently more slenderly, constructed. Roughness and strength go hand in hand; so likewise do beauty and frailty. The female has what the man wants - beauty and delicacy. The male has what the female wants - courage and strength. The one is as good in its place as the other: and by these things God has made an equality between the man and the woman, so that there is properly very little superiority on either side. Being heirs together - Both the man and woman being equally called to eternal glory: and as prayer is one great means of obtaining a meetness for it, it is necessary that they should live together in such a manner as to prevent all family contentions, that they may not be prevented, by disputes or misunderstandings, from uniting daily in this most important duty - family and social prayer."

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…