Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:09 — 19.4MB)

10-28-2018 Weekly Message
The Meditation of the Week: Psalm 19: 1-14
Text: I Peter 1:1-9
The title of the Word:  Temptation of Satan  is rather ended up giving  the crown of life unto the children of God

Apostle Peter is praying for the fullness of grace and peace by writing to the chosen saints of God’s children through obedience and the sprinkling of Jesus Christ through the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, according to  His Father’s foreknowledge. This prayer was not only for the saints at that time, but also for all the saints who have been born again of  the Spirit for the past two thousand years.

And he testified of that all the saints born of the Holy Ghost could have  grace and peace in all the trials,  God kept for them the inheritance in heaven that was not rotten, unclean, nor consumed. He testified that they were protected by the power of God.

But even the born-again children of God are bound to be sad for a while when they are subjected to various trials, but what they can rejoice is that the faith in them is tried, so that they are to be more purified that the gold is made cleaner tried through fire. And that when they appear, they receive praise, honor, and glory. The serpent Satan tempted Adam, the Son of God in the Garden of Eden, for him to sin. In this age,  Satan is constantly tempting God’s children.

Apostle Peter testified that although the children of God could suffer from Satan’s attack physically for a while, but Satan could not touch their saved souls in them:

” Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see himnot, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 8 -9)

Apostle Peter comforted them to be glad, for they were partakers of the suffering of Christ, not to be surprised to receive a fiery test. He  also testified that if they were reproached for the name of Christ, they are happy, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rested upon them. On their part he is evil spoken of, but on their part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4: 12-14).

Apostle James also wrote to the twelve scattered tribes of Israel, bearing witness to the test they were receiving and comforting them.

“Blessed is he who endures temptation, for he will receive the crown of life which the Lord promised to those who love him after he has trials” (James 1:12)

The devil who tempted the first man in the Garden of Eden has been  tempting people continually for six thousand years of human history, so that they may not believe the Word of God which God  has given each generation to obey his  Words  to taking them into the eternal destruction with himself. For two thousand years, since the blood of Jesus Christ was shed, Satan has been tempting the children of God  giving them fiery affliction. But the children of God are inevitably saddened by suffering for a short time because of the weakness of the flesh, but they are able to overcome the world by joyfully gratifying thanks to their participation in the sufferings of Christ standing up as tumbling dolls.

For thousands of years Satan has been able to temp  a great number of  people to  lead them to destruction.  Jesus Christ, the last Adam, who appeared in the image of Adam, was able to overcome the temptations of the devil so that the children of God, born of the Holy Spirit also are able to overcome the temptation of the Devil. No matter how much the devil tries to temp them, the devil’s temptation returns in vain. All temptation of the devil is to give them to endure to the end so that they shall be rewarded with the crown of life at the end.

         The devil tempted Jesus  to cause Him to suffer tremendous insults and sufferings for Himself to be ruler of this world forever and ever, and eventually He crucified Jesus, but the devil is  judged by His resurrection from the dead so that he is destined to be cast into  the eternal lake of fire. But the devil has still been killing many Christians in vain, but he shall be ended up being a fool that is to be  the helper to make them to be crowned with life.

         The resurrected Jesus Christ appeared to Apostle John and spoke of the  person who  receives the crown of life:

” Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. “(Revelation 2: 10-11).

            Apostle Paul wrote to the saints in Rome suffering with extreme persecution and slaughter under Roman king Nero:

” Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. “(Romans 5 : 1-5)

            Jesus spoke of the purpose that he came to the world. He spoke clearly of what kind  world where we are living.

” Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. “(Matthew 10: 34-39).

          That’s right! We live in the dark world without truth and justice. When the light of truth is shone in this darkness, the world’s people in the darkness, even inside of family , are hating Jesus Christ, the light of life, while at the same time persecuting Christians and persecuting them. Therefore, God gave His children the sword of the Word of God, which is the light of life. In other words, with the sword of the Word, we must fight the darkness in this world and shine the light of life. We have  to win in the spiritual warfare. Peace is coming only after we win the spiritual warfare. Apostle Paul testified of the sword of the word which God has  given unto us:

 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. “(Hebrews 4:12)

Amen! Hallelujah!