2 Peter 1 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Peter 1.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2pe/1/1/s_1157001

Meditate on verses 12-13.

 

Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you

of these things, even though you already

know them, and have been established in

 the truth which is present with you.  I consider

it right, as long as I am in this earthly

 dwelling, to stir you up by way of reminder.

 

Peter was about to die, and the sheep entrusted to him were on his mind.  He wrote another letter reminding them of things they already knew.  Once he departed this earthly dwelling, Peter did not want them to forget the truth.

As you shepherd the flock God has given you, remember His divine power gives you everything you need to tend them.  Like Peter, remind them of God’s truths, being diligent to ensure they can recall those truths at any time.

Pray 2 Peter 1:4-8 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, as partakers of Your divine nature and

 having escaped the corruption that is in

 the world by lust, let _______ and me apply all

diligence in our faith.  LORD, supply us

with moral excellence, knowledge, self-control,

 perseverance, Godliness, brotherly

kindness, and love.  Let these qualities be

 increasingly ours, so we will be neither

useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge

of You, our LORD Jesus Christ.

In whose name I pray~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

1 Peter 5 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Peter 5.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1pe/5/1/s_1156001

Meditate on verse 2a.

 

Shepherd the flock of God among you.

 

Peter took seriously Jesus’ command to shepherd His sheep (John 21:15-17).  His obedience is seen in this letter which still shepherds the flock of God today. 

Who has the LORD placed in your realm of influence to shepherd?  He trusts you to eagerly feed His flock, being an example for them to follow (vs. 2-3).  Jesus, the Chief Shepherd promises you a reward for being a good shepherd, the unfading crown of glory (v. 4).

As you shepherd the flock God entrusts to you, pray 1 Peter 5:2-3 over yourself to be a faithful shepherd and verses 6-11 over yourself and your flock as their faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6- 7).

“LORD, help me shepherd the flock You place among me.

 Let me exercise oversight not under compulsion, but

voluntarily, according to Your will, God, and not for sordid

gain, but with eagerness.  Do not let me lord over

 those allotted to my charge but help me prove to be

an example to the flock.  LORD, help __________ and me

 humble ourselves under Your mighty hand, that

You may exalt us at the proper time. Help us

cast all our anxiety upon You because You care for us.


Give us sober spirits; keep us on the alert,

 so our adversary, the devil, will not devour us.

 Let us resist him, firm in our faith, knowing the same

 experiences of suffering are being accomplished by our

brethren who are in the world.
God of all grace, after

we have suffered for a little while, You will

call us to Your eternal glory in Christ.

 Perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish us.


To You, Jesus, be dominion forever and ever.  Amen~”

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

1 Peter 4 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Peter 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1pe/4/1/s_1155001

Meditate on verse 7.

 

The end of all things is near;

therefore, be of sound

 judgment and sober spirit

 for the purpose of prayer.

 

Wow, what a sobering thought!  The end of all things is near.  Therefore, what are we to be doing and what kind of people should we be?  The time is past for pursuing worldly things; the time is now for pursuing God’s will (vs. 2-3).  The time is past for carrying out fleshly desires; the time is now to carry out God’s desires.  May the remainder of our time on earth be consumed by the things of God. 

 

Ask God to give you an eternal perspective.  Time is short; focus on Christ and what positively impacts His Kingdom.

Pray 1 Peter 4:1-2 and 7-11 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD Jesus Christ, arm ___________ and me with Your purpose. 

As we suffer in the flesh, let us cease from sin,

 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no

 longer for the lusts of men, but for Your will, God.

 The end of all things is near; therefore, let us have

 sound judgment and a sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

 Help us keep fervent in our love for one another

 because love covers a multitude of sins. Let us be

hospitable to one another without complaint.  

With the gifts You give us, let us serve one another as

good stewards of Your grace.  Help us speak Your utterances, God.

Help us serve by the strength You supply, so that

 in all things You will be glorified through Jesus Christ.

 To You, Jesus, belongs the glory and

dominion forever and ever.  Amen~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

1 Peter 3 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Peter 3.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1pe/3/1/s_1154001

Meditate on verse 15.

 

Sanctify Christ as LORD in your hearts, always

 being ready to make a defense to everyone

 who asks you to give an account for the hope

that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

 

“Sanctify Christ as LORD in your heart” (v. 15).  What an interesting command!  Sanctify—set apart Christ as LORD—Master—God—Sovereign in your heart.  Have you made Jesus LORD of your life?  Is He your Master, the One in charge of you?  Is Jesus your God and Sovereign, your Supreme Ruler?  It may be easy to say, “Jesus is LORD,” but what does that look like applied to your life?  These are important questions to answer because Jesus says:

 

"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did

 we not prophesy in Your name, and in

 Your name cast out demons, and in Your name

 perform many miracles?'  And then I

will declare to them, 'I never knew you;

depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

—Matthew 7:22-23

 

Jesus died for you, so you can be brought to God (v. 18).  If you haven’t already, make Him God of your life today. 

 

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray 1 Peter 3:15 over those who need to make Jesus their LORD.

 

“LORD, let __________ sanctify You as LORD

in their hearts.  Help me always

be ready to make a defense to everyone

who asks me to give an account

 for the hope that is in me.  Let me do

 it with gentleness and reverence.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

1 Peter 2 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 1 Peter 2.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1pe/2/1/s_1153001

Meditate on verse 25.

 

For you were continually straying

like sheep, but now you have

 returned to the Shepherd

 and Guardian of your souls.

 

A good shepherd makes sure the sheep are fed.  Peter took the LORD’s sheep to the Word of God for nourishment.

Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word,

 so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.

—1 Peter 2:2

 

Peter exhorts his readers to long for God’s Word, to crave and desire it like a newborn baby craves the mama’s milk.  As a child of God, your spiritual nourishment comes from the Bible.  What happens to a newborn who is not given milk to drink?  God uses this comparison to help you understand how vitally important it is to your Christian growth to spend time in God’s Word every day, throughout the day. 

Pray 1 Peter 2:2 and 25 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, like newborn babies, help _________ and me

 long for the pure milk of Your Word,

so that by it we may grow in respect to salvation. 

LORD, ___________ is continually straying like sheep; let

 them return to You, the Shepherd and Guardian of their souls.

In Your name, Jesus~”

 

 

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

 

1 Peter 1 - Praying God's Word

Please read 1 Peter 1.
www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/1pe/1/1/s_1152001
Meditate on verse 25.

But the Word of the LORD endures forever, and
this is the Word which was preached to you.

Peter was the disciple who denied knowing Jesus three times the night before the crucifixion (Luke 22:54-62).  Peter was part of Jesus’ inner circle of friends, yet that night, more motivated by fear than love for his LORD, he did the regrettable.  Thankfully, he did not kill himself, like Judas did (Matthew 27:3-5).  Instead, Peter let Jesus forgive and restore him.  After the resurrection, Jesus graciously came to Peter, asking if he loved Him and exhorting him three times to shepherd His sheep (John 21:15-17).  Peter wrote two letters as part of obeying his LORD’s command to tend the lambs.  Thankfully, as a lamb of God, you have these enduring letters to tend your heart and the hearts of those God calls you to shepherd.

As a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7), pray 1 Peter 1:3-5 over those who need to be born again, so they can become a lamb of God.

“Blessed are You, God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ. 
According to Your great mercy, please cause __________ to
 be born again to a living hope through the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Let them obtain
 an inheritance which is imperishable
and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved
 in heaven for them.  Protect them by Your power, God, through
faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
For the sake of Your name, Jesus~”

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell

 

2 Timothy 4 - Praying God's Word

 

Please read 2 Timothy 4.

www.blueletterbible.org/nasb/2ti/4/1/s_1129001

Meditate on verses 3-4.

 

For the time will come when they will not

endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have

 their ears tickled, they will accumulate for

themselves teachers in accordance to their

own desires and will turn away their ears

from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

 

Today’s meditation verses sound as if they were recently written, just like the list of the ungodly in 2 Timothy 3:2-5.  God’s Word is eternal and continues to be profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

Does 2 Timothy 4:3-4 reprove you?  What teachers and teachings do you follow?  Do you merely want your ears tickled, or do you really want to know Truth?  Are you part of a church where the Bible is preached and taught as the inerrant Word of God, the supreme and final authority for life and faith?  Or does your church capitulate to pop-culture and political correctness, and personal preference?

Pray 2 Timothy 4:2 and 5 over yourself and those for whom you stand guard as a faithful, prayerful watchman (Isaiah 62:6-7).

 “LORD, in these last days, let _______ and me

preach the Word; be ready in season and

out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort

with great patience and instruction. 

Let us be sober in all things, endure

hardship, do the work of an

evangelist, and fulfill our ministry.


In Your name, Jesus~”

 

The WATCHMAN on the WALL, 4 – Dr. Ron and Marsha Harvell