We are almost done! One more blog after this and then 1 Peter will be complete. After that I plan to look at 2 Peter, but there will be some changes that I will announce next week. This time I will include all of the steps of my verse mapping including the different versions of the Bible that I looked at and some of the words I explored. This will make this post considerably longer, but I think it might be helpful to share more of what I do when I am verse mapping.
January 6, 2025 (verse mapping)
Prayer:
Psalm 145:3-7
3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom.
4 One generation will commend your
works to another;
they will tell of Your mighty acts.
5 They will speak of the glorious
splendor of Your majesty.
and I will meditate on Your
wonderful works.
6 They will tell of the power of Your
awesome works,
and I will proclaim Your great deeds.
7 They will celebrate Your abundant
goodness
and joyfully sing of Your
righteousness. (NIV'84)
Verse: 1 Peter 5:8-11
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV'84)
Design:
8 Have sound judgment. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him by being firm in the faith. You know that the same kinds of sufferings are being laid on Your brotherhood all over the world.
10 After after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who called you into His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you. 11 To Him be the glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. (Evangelical Heritage Version)
8 Be sober, be vigilant because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory b Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Develop:
self-controlled/sound judgment/sober (3525) nepho
to abstain from wine (keep sober), i.e. (figurative) be discreet :- be sober (-minded)
enemy/adversary (476) antidikos
an opponent (in a lawsuit); specially Satan (as the arch enemy) :- accuser, adversary
restore/perfect (2675) katartizo
to complete thoroughly, i.e. repair (literal or figurative) or adjust :- create, fully train, mend, prepare, restore (-ation), supply
firm/establish/stablish (4741) sterizo
to set fast, i.e. (literal) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figurative) to confirm :- fix, establish, set, strengthen
steadfast/support/settle (2311) themeloo
to lay a basis for, i.e. (literal) erect, or (figurative) consolidate :- establish, (lay the) found (-ation), ground, stable.
Outcome:
sober (some definitions not dealing with alcohol)
2) marked by sedate or gravely or earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor
3) unhurried, calm
4) marked by temperance, moderation, or seriousness
6) showing no excessive or extreme qualities of fancy, emotion, or prejudice
The Greek word, nepho, is translated three different ways in these three different versions of the Bible: 1) NIV - self-controlled, 2) EHV - sound judgment, 3) KJV - sober. According to AMG's Annotated Strong's Greek Dictionary of the New Testamant, the closest one of these to the original meaning is sober.
The devil is described as "looking for someone to devour." We need to take this seriously. We need to be sober-minded about it. The devil isn't a red cartoon character with horns. He is more insidious than that. He looks for the chinks in the armor of our faith. We need to be alert and take his attacks seriously. Once he finds a crack, he will work at it, trying to make it bigger so he can worm his way inside.
We resist the devil with our faith. God's Word is our protection against Satan. The more time we spend with God by studying His Word, the stronger our faith grows. We also have ammunition against the devil. I am reminded of Ephesians 6:10-18, specifically verses 13-17:
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day
of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after
you have done everything to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the
belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of
righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the
readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to
all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all
the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. (NIV'84)
We also know that we are not alone. God is with us. In addition, there are many other believers in the world who are also under attack by the devil. We are an army of soldiers fighting against the enemy. When are time in God's earthly army is done, He (who is full of grace) will bring us into His glorious Heaven to live with Him eternally. God will restore us to our Heavenly bodies.
"To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (NIV'84)
January 9, 2025 (TEND marieldavenport.com)
1 Peter 5:8-11
Take Time to Pray
Psalm 145:8-9
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
9 The LORD is good to all;
He has compassion on all that He has made.
Examine: 1 Peter 5:8-11
8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
10 And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To Him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. (NIV'84)
Notice
God
What do you notice about God's character?
God is full of grace.
God's glory is eternal.
God will restore us.
God is powerful.
Lesson
What lessons are being taught? Is there a sin, promise, action, command or example being taught? Is there a warning being given?
We need to be alert for the devil's influence in our lives.
We need to take the threat that the devil presents seriously.
We are not alone in our fight against the devil. Christians around the world are fighting him.
God, in His grace, will one day take us from our battle with the devil to our Heavenly home.
Do
Consider how you need to respond to what God is teaching you?
Question
How do I keep myself alert for the trouble the devil causes?
Response
Bible study, prayer, confession
Reevaluate my behavior, thoughts, and words on a daily basis.
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