October 15, 2016

Chapter 3 

Verses 1-2

Peter is now instructing Christians and their duties in marriage. He's talking to the new converted: men and women. And more: men and women married to unbelievers... But there was a difference: a Christian husband with pagan wife was a very different thing from a Christian wife with pagan husband. If a man converted it was almost an imposition for his wife to follow him. But if it was the woman who was converted first? Poor wife! Peter instructed Christians about the importance of the example to transform lives. So he's not saying that women are less important! He is just giving more emphasis to the marital relationship.

Verses 3-6

Peter follows teaching that the true beauty of a woman does not depend on her image. Gold and the external apparatus are corruptible and disappear, but the gentle and quiet spirit is more precious in the sight of God.

However, we must not understand that if a woman takes care of her appearance this is wrong. Remember that Christ calls his people, his Church, his bride! Every bride is beautiful, even the most simple.

The question is what value adornments have for you. Vanity cannot be above your time with God.The point is: my outward appearance may not be up care with the appearance of my spirit ...

And although Peter was talking to women, you have men nowadays spending more time than women to get ready ... So attention men too!

Verse 5

In verse 5 Peter recalls the example of the holy women. The reference is "women who preeminently represented the holiness of Israel's vocation, the “ saints”. Christian wives become true daughters of Sarah in the spiritual likeness.

When Peter says "Do not give way to fear" I believe he said:"- Fear God and do not fear anything, that is trusting in God and being strong and courageous!"

Verse 7

Peter goes on and now urges husbands to fulfill their duties to their wives. They are to live as partners. Women are also important but more fragile ... Women were then called weakest part because they are physically weaker, in some aspects, in comparison to men. This is not intellectual or moral inferiority, although that in the ancient world were it was admitted.  Husbands must honor their wives because they are heirs together of the grace of life with them wisely.

Verses 8-12

Living together in the Christian community

Christians should be like-minded. Should be sympathetic, c and humble.

If we want to live with quality and have happy days, we should abstain from backbiting and whatever evil, indulging in the practice of what is just and true. It is to be tireless in seeking peace, remembering that God always watches to guide us to express his approval or disapproval, and His ears are attentive to the prayers for guidance or assistance . On the other hand the Lord's face, the eyes of the Lord, the presence of the Lord, is against those who do evil.

Verses 13-14

Christ teaches us how to face hostilities and suffering

If we plant goodness is goodness that we will reap. But even doing good, we can still suffer. But if we suffer because of righteousness, the Lord's blessings will be upon us!

Verses 15

Peter recommends Christians to be ready to answer.  Christians must know God and His Word in order to give a rational explanation of the hope for which they were generated again. And all this must be done with gentleness and respect ("reverence") to God. Behaving in this way, they have or maintain good conscience, taking his false accusers to be ashamed.

Verse 17

Peter turns back to the thought of 1 Peter 2:12: Christ is beside those who are suffering, sharing that suffering, as He who was also falsely accused, having died for sins that were not His. And His death on the cross is more than an example, He opened the way for us to the Father.

Verses 19-22

Noah and his family obeyed God, entered the ark and were saved through water. Like Noah in the ark passed safely through the waters of the flood, so the baptized become safe by the water of baptism for the Church, that is, as flood waters carried the ark safely, so baptism leads the Christian. The figure of baptism does not mean the removal of the filth of the flesh, that is, not the mere cleansing of the body, but the answer of a good conscience toward God; rather, a "pledge" to God, derived from "a clean conscience" because the promise made at baptism. Baptism is a Christian discipleship confession before men ... Before God, is a pledge to live pure before Him and man.

Christ was gone into heaven. Angels, authorities and powers are in submission to him.

We must walk toward heaven too.

From Ana´s preaching

October 8th, 2016

Chapter 2

• Verse 1:Get rid! Plunder! Actions that begin in you! To get rid of what is bad is to be free of envy and jealousy that happened between the twelve apostles (Luke 22:24) and all sorts of slander, which is a result of envy and jealousy. All these are sins of the spirit and therefore hindrances for our sanctification.
• Verses 2-3: As newborn babies feel "hunger" of God! You must be fed so that you will grow up. Everyone knows how this process of breastfeeding is: there are children that suck a lot, others that just a little… Some are breast fed for a few months, others up to 2 years old… Others reject milk... Some eat fast, others appreciate it… And as there are such differences, there are differences in growth... Drinking or tasting the milk, makes experience of God to be different for each. Anyway, who tasted the best milk will no longer feel satisfied with other food!
• Verses 4-8: Peter calls Jesus living stone, Peter recognizes that Jesus is the cornerstone of Church built in Matthew 16:18. A rough stone in my hand cannot serve as nothing more than a paperweight, but in the hands of the cutter becomes a jewel. Everything depends on how I get the stone. Jesus is the same, the difference is in the heart that receives Him: in involvement , in the development of intimacy with God ...
• Peter calls believers living stones ... He menas that the more we draw near to God, we become stones and with the main stone we will build the Church.
• Verses 9-10:All that the priest was in Old Testament times, in the relationship between God and men, a Christian must be in his community and in his personal life. You are a member of a holy nation! Holy nation is a significant term of alliance that existed between God and Israel. (Ex 19.3-6)People, like the Jews or Gentiles  have accepted Christ, and were made in another nation, are now God's people! The chosen people. And so are we!
• But if you were crowned king or queen because of this real priest, you must behave with "good manners" condescending with your position. There is a pattern of conduct. There are privileges for kings and queens, but there are obligations too.Peter then suggests some duties for christian´s conduct.
• Verses 11-12: abstain from fleshly desires and be an example of conduct before the unbelievers. Remember you are a foreigner, remember carnal desires fight against your soul and influence people around you! If someone speaks bad things of you, live righteously because on the day of the visitation of the Lord His name will surely be glorified through your life.
• Verses 13-15: Peter writes about the responsibility of Christians towards the civilian government. What is the responsibility to the civilian government? The civilian government's own role is to punish the wrongdoer and reward those who do good (2:14). You must submit to all levels of authority, however, not only to avoid the punishment of civil law, but because the Lord commands such obedience (2: 13-14). The subject should be voluntary, to remember the example of your Lord, and should be practiced for the honor of his name. Because you love Christ, recognize and accept the responsibilities and obligations of citizenship, in submission to the legitimate rights of the state. Romans 13: 3-5. Of course, any human law that conflicts with your obligations to God must be disobeyed (see Acts 4:19; 5:29).
• Verse 16: You are free, but your freedom is limited and conditioned by the fact that you  are servant of Christ. The true Christian finds its perfect freedom in the service of his Lord.
• Verse 17: Respect and love, you and your neighbor. Rom 12:10;
• Verse 18-19: The servants needed to be submissive to their masters, although they were harsh and cruel. The submission should not depend on the worthiness or unworthiness of the master. If the servants were treated unfairly by their masters, God would be pleased when these servants patiently could withstand such suffering for the sake of conscience toward Him, refusing to return evil for evil
• Verse 20: There is no merit in suffering the punishment you deserve as a result of wrongdoing; but suffer punishment not deserved is worthy of praise because with such a thing God is glorified. Hard responsibility!
• Peter says that Jesus gave us the perfect example, suffering as a criminal although He had committed no sin (21-24). Jesus underwent such suffering without outraging His persecutors or threatening them in retribution.
• Verse 25:To convert is to stop wandering, walking in circles, alone… When you convert for real you won a pastor! A real Pastor feeds, takes cares of his sheep, seeks, gathers his flock, leads, protects from enemies and leads them to the green pastures.

-      
From Ana´s message

October 1st, 2016

Chapter 1

• Do you know what you really need?
• Everything you need you will find in Jesus
• sdy
  

September 24, 2016

John 6: 1-13 

• Move to the other side (v. 1): Go to another level! Do something that costs you effort! Go beyond in the walk with God, in wisdom, in faith, in love... Only those who went to the other side saw the miracle.
• The crowd that followed Jesus was made up of people of every kind. (v.2) The majority was searching for Jesus for interests. People continue to seek the churches for the wrong reasons... Still looking for the miracle, for the campaign, for the rituals, superstitions, and do not look for God.
• Bible says that Jesus put Philip to test asking about food although Jesus knew what He was going to do. (v.6) Sometimes we are like this disciple: we are stuck in wrong concerns… 
• Come to Jesus without fear! Be like the boy! Have courage! Have courage enough to be humble. He recognized Jesus, His authority… He delivered everything… Be ready to serve God!
• Carry with you what is useful to the kingdom of God, as the fishes and loaves were.
•  Give value to people that approach you, as Andrew gave a chance to that boy.
• Treat people with equality: Jesus asked the disciples to make people sit down.When we sat down we are all on the same level. When we seat at a table for a meal. There is no one more important. For God, all are important to have supper with him ... We are all invited.  Around the table, we're all on the same level. Looking into each other's eyes. Realizing the feelings, observing the faces…
• Give people enough. What passes the measure, store! (v.12)
• You may find you are very small, a boy, but God counts on you. You may find that you have nothing to offer, because you have very little .. But your little with Christ can become too much. You can make a difference and promote a miracle.
• Be ready and dare to be available to the Lord.
• Even being one in the crowd, take position, be the remnant willing to be miracle channel.

Summary from Ana´s preaching