Sins against the Holy Spirit

Vexing (or grieving or despising):

                The Bible teaches us that both the saved and unsaved can vex or grieve the Holy Spirit.  Isa. 63:10 says, “But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.”  Eph. 4:30 says, “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”  It is possible for people to vex or grieve the Holy Spirit.  The idea of the word vex (and grieve) is to pain or to make angry by provocations.  An unsaved person who refuses to give into the convicting element of the Holy Spirit is grievous to the blessed Spirit.  Here the Spirit illuminates his heart and mind and with amazing power pierces an unbeliever’s heart thus pointing him to his Savior.  But the unsaved refuses the Spirit’s conviction.  How painful indeed to shun the Spirit of God!  Heb. 10:29 classifies this rejection as “despite unto the Spirit of grace.”  A Christian can also sin this way.  In fact, Eph. 4:30 is written to believers.  The Holy Spirit prompts believers to obey the light of Scripture, and yet, at times we wrestle against His leading or impressions.  Perhaps we take the indwelling Spirit to places we ought not go or defile His temple (which is referring to our physical bodies according to 1 Cor. 6:19) with sin.  It isn’t hard to see how we may vex or cause grief to the Holy Spirit.  We must be reminded that we can also grieve the Holy Spirit.  We must not treat Him that way; instead, we must cease from grieving Him.

Blasphemy:

                The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost which is referenced in Matt. 12:31-32, Mk. 3:28-30 and Lk. 12:10 is a sin that only an unsaved person can commit.  Ascribing to the Devil the source or power of Christ’s miracles rather than the Holy Spirit is the height of blasphemy.  Any word spoken against the Lord Jesus is forgivable, but to speak against the source of His power, the Holy Spirit, and to claim that the Spirit is of the Devil or is Satan himself, is to poison the very well or fountain head of salvation.  No one comes to Christ and receives Him as Savior if they are convinced that His power is that of the Devil.  Therefore, only an unsaved person can ever commit this highly awful sin of blaspheming the Holy Ghost.

Tempting:

                Tempting the Holy Spirit is another sin that believers can commit.  The account of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 is a case in point.  Here was a couple who were motivated perhaps by jealousy and envy to give money to the church so as to appear righteous.  Covetousness kicked in and they kept back part of the gift for themselves.  They lied to the Holy Ghost (Acts 5:30) and were judged by God.  The Holy Spirit could see right through their deceit.  Do we tempt the Holy Spirit of God?  We do when we mess with sin and think that no one sees us or that we can get away with sin.  We lie to Him and to ourselves when we think that we can get away with sin.

Resisting:

                Then there is the matter of resisting the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 7:51.  Both unsaved and saved can commit this sin.  The idea of the word resist is to “fall against or to rush against another” (Robertson’s Word Picture).  It is just as if we are blocking the door that would allow the Holy Spirit to come in and have free reign in our heart.    In the context of Acts 7, the unsaved Jews were resisting the prophet’s and apostles, and therefore really resisting God Himself!  They kept opposing God’s convicting power.  Believers can also resist the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit prompts a believer to do something and He gets brushed off, the conscience bears witness that the Holy Spirit of God has been resisted.  This takes place when sermons (preached by a pastor or spiritual leader) are ignored when it has spoken directly to a believer’s life or his particular situation.  Refusing to obey His Word is a form of resisting the Holy Spirit.  What a terrible position to be in!  To be opposed to God or to resist Him: this is a position of spiritual defeat.  We must beware not to resist the Holy Spirit.

Quenching:

                In 1 Thess. 5:19, we find a short but vital command of not quenching the Holy Spirit.  The Bible says: “Quench not the Spirit.”  How does this happen?  The idea of this verse is like putting out a fire.  The Holy Spirit may burn or impress a matter upon our hearts and we, with a damp and cold sin, extinguish God’s dealings in our hearts.  Neglecting to nurture the Holy Spirit’s fire within our spirits is another way to quench the Spirit.  Feeding the flame with worldliness or sin will suffocate the work of the Spirit inside the heart.  Worse, if we are not careful, we may quench the Spirit in a fellow believer’s heart by pouring out sinful words and/or an attitude against them and thus doubly quench the Spirit.

                Truly, the operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart of man is magnificent!  Let us be careful not to vex nor grieve Him, not to blaspheme against Him, and not to resist or quench the Holy Spirit of God.  Rather, let us do what He tells us to do, and be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18), which means to always be yielding more of ourselves to His control.

Seed thoughts: "Where do temptations come from?"

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (I Cor. 10:13)

The word temptation can mean “trial” and “testing,” but in this study we are focusing more on the idea that temptation is the “solicitation, enticement or the invitation to sin.”  Having said that, the temptation, in and of its own, is not sin (it is an invitation to sin).  The sin is in the yielding to it.  When you yield to temptation then you end up in sin.  When you yield to God, resist the Devil and flee from sin, then the temptation is escaped and you will be able to bear it or endure it.

Where do temptations come from? There are at least three sources of temptations (BTW, if you wish to add or improve upon this article please feel free to leave a comment) - The first two that I will highlight are outward sources and the third is inward or our selves (the flesh or our sinful nature).

1.  Satan himself, as he is also known as "the tempter."

"For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain." (1 Thess. 3:5)

The Lord Jesus Himself was tempted by Satan (Matt. 4; Mk. 1; & Lk. 4).  Interesting to note that when the Lord got victory over Satan's temptation, that Satan (or the tempter) departed from Christ only "for a season" (Lk. 4:13).  One victory over temptation does not mean that the temptation (nor the tempter) doesn't return.  Satan tried to get the Lord Jesus to doubt God and God's goodness, to doubt His own identity as God's Son, and he tried to persuade the Lord to fulfill his natural desires in a way that was out of step with the Heavenly Father.  Note: a temptation can also be an invitation to do "God's will" in a disobedient way.

2.  Companions, friends or others.

"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not." (Pro. 1:10)

 "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away." (Pro. 4:14-15)

 "A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good." (Pro. 16:29)

We must ever be watchful of who we follow or listen to or allow as friends because of the influence that others may have upon us.  Others can clearly be a source of temptation in our lives.  The best thing to do when others are manifestly the source of temptation is to avoid them.

3.   Self or the flesh.

 "Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt. 26:41)

"But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." (James 1:14)

Certainly the two outside influences of temptation would be greatly hindered if we would take great heed to ourselves!  We must remember that our flesh is weak.  As long as we are living in this world we will always struggle with temptations.  However, we do not need to be defeated by our temptations, we can through God's grace, bear it or endure it.  It is all wrapped up in how we choose to respond to temptations.  We must remember that God is faithful, that He only permits temptations to come our way which He knows that we may able to resist.  He makes a way of escape or deliverance from it so that we maybe able to endure it.  God has given us everything we need to defeat the various sources of temptations in this world of sin.

Excerpts from The Pastor in Prayer

As I said in my review, here are some of the quotes I like that didn't quite make the Twitter standard of 140 characters, but are nevertheless good, and you wouldn't get it if it was "twitterfied."  More to come, for sure.  Enjoy!

 "We make no excuse for unbelief, but confess it with detestation of it that we should ever have doubted the truthful, the mighty, the faithful God."

"But we do confess that if there be anything acceptable in these our offerings, they are all first given us of Thee.  No praise comes from us till first it is wrought in us."

"Qualify each one of us to be vessels fit for the Master's use, then use each one of us according to the measure of our capacity."

"for Thee we will cheerfully labour while strength is given; but, Oh, send prosperity, and not to us only, but to all workers for Jesus, to all missions in foreign lands, and missions in the heathendom at home."

God's way is the perfect way (part 3)

God’s ways are revealed not discovered.

Romans 11:33

(33) O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

God reveals His will for our lives through the Bible.  If He did not reveal Himself, we would certainly have not known anything about Him.  The word “depth” suggests profundity, and mystery.  The words “unsearchable,” and “past finding out” are telling us that He is beyond the scope our finite minds.  How could we possibly come to the knowledge of God had it not been for the Bible?  Thank God for His self-disclosure.  He intends for us, as His children (being saved by the merits of Christ alone), to live by His words.  We do not have to be ignorant of God’s will and way for our lives.  Any good thing that we posses, comes primarily from God, He is gracious enough to reveal His Word to us.  His word is clear, infallible and sufficient.  Are you careful to obey the truths that you see in God’s Word?

God's way is the perfect way (part 2)

A consideration of God’s way:

Isa. 55:8-9

(8)  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

(9)  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

First, God’s way is not naturally the way we would choose.  Just read the Bible and you will notice how different, how opposite God does things from the way we would do things.  This is a very important consideration.  God is different from all of His creation.  And because of sin, we have a propensity to go our own way, apart from God - the very God who created us.  Rebellion is the height of ingratitude and stupidity.  If you truly desire to go God’s way in every area of life, you must first understand there will be a struggle.  Our sinful nature, our carnal desire, our way is not God’s way.  We must go to God and ask Him to strengthen us to go His way.  A Confession or acknowledgment of this truth is vital, and must be professed repeatedly until we reach our glorification in Christ.

Second, God’s way is the best way.  Our reasoning or circumstances will at times oppose God’s ways, but by trusting God and obeying Him, we bring God to bear upon our situation.  With humble dependence upon Him, we can pray to God with confidence, claim His promises, and know His presence is with us.  It is best to go God’s way.

God's way is the perfect way (part 1)

Psalm 18:30-32

30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

31 For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

32 It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

 

A closer look:

Perfect - integrity; turth, without blemish, complete or whole.
Tried - pure; tested;
Buckler - a shield
Gird - give; to bind (or compass) about

 

The Bible teaches us that God's way is perfect.  His doings, His wisdom, His judgments, His character, indeed everything about Him is perfect.  Since God is our Creator, He has a perfect way that He desires for us to walk.  When we compare our ways against His ways, it looks pretty obvious that our ways are not perfect.  We don't always do good and right.  Is there not a desire in your heart to live a perfect life?  Not that you can live entirely sinless or without flaw, but the idea of perfect in this Scripture passage, and in many others is that we are lacking or wanting in nothing.  God has a perfect will and way for each and everyone of us.  He has a perfect marriage partner for many. He has a perfect career or job or vocation for you.  He has a perfect church, which is what we all need to be a part of.  He has a perfect home that He desires for all to have.  When we look at verse 32, we can see that although our way isn't naturally perfect, if we forsake our way, or turn over our way to go God's way, then He can make our way perfect.  God can give us the marriage that we ought to have.  God can give us the church life, and work, and everything else so that we can confidently say...that He makes my way perfect.  I am glad that if I walk the path that God has revealed to me in the Bible, that I can live the perfect life that God intended for me to live.

He is Able (part 2)

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25)

The Lord Jesus is able to save.  No one else can do this.  Throughout history there have been great men who have accomplished extraordinary things.  Abraham, that great man of faith, founded the nation of Israel.  Moses, an equally great man, was used by God to liberate Israel from Egyptian slavery.  In American History, great men like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin went though extraordinary measures to secure a new and free nation.  Then there were men of renown religious courage and strength who stood for Bible truth; men like John the Baptist, the Apostles, Paul and Silas, Mark and Luke.  Then there were men of more modern times like William Tyndale, C.H. Spurgeon, and a host of other strong men who stood for God.  But all in all no man is able to save.  They maybe able to do many great things, but they cannot do the greatest things: secure the Salvation of mankind; satisfy the just and righteous wrath of God; and reconcile a holy God with sinful man.  Only Christ can do this.  Mankind in all his glory cannot save one soul from eternal retribution.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ can do so.  Isaiah 59:1 says this "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:"  Praise God, He is able to save.

He is Able (part 1)

"Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."  (Hebrews 7:25)

He is able - that simply means that Christ alone is able to save.  Not a minister, not a church, not an ordinance, nor a religious ritual can save.  Only the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save a soul.  There was a time when I relied on my religious works for salvation.  I thought I had to do things in order to gain points with God.  It was pitiful.  One day, I was doing good (at least I thought that way in my mind); the next day, I was miserable because of sin.  But when I finally came to the point where I realized that Christ was all I needed, that His work on the cross was the only work that could pay for my sins, then  I rested in the fact that Christ alone was able to save.  Not my works, but His work saves.  Not my merits, but His merits gained salvation.  Indeed, He alone is able.

Post Christmas blessing - Our Lord Emmanuel

(Matthew 1:23)
"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

As God was literally with Mary and Joseph, and the rest of the New Testament Bible characters through the incarnate Son, so He truly is with us today.  He will always be with us.  As we serve Him, His presence will always be with us.  Matthew 28:20 says: "I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Truly the Lord Jesus is Emmanuel.

The Thankful Samaritan

Luke 17:11-19 "And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. (12) And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: (13) And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. (14) And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. (15) And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, (16) And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. (17) And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? (18) There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. (19) And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."

Happy Thanksgiving!  May we never forget to give God both glory and thanks for His grace and mercy upon us.

Stewardship and Thankfulness (Matthew Henry on Genesis 8:20)

"And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar." (Gen. 8:20)

"He offered only those that were clean; for it is not enough the we sacrifice, but we must sacrifice that which God appoints, according to the law of sacrifice, and not a corrupt thing.  Though his stock of cattle was so small, and that rescued from ruin at so great an expense of care and pains, yet he did not grudge to give God his dues out of it.  He might have said, "Have I but seven sheep to begin the world with, and must one of the seven be killed and burnt for sacrifice?  Were it not better to defer it till we have greater plenty?"  No, to prove the sincerity of his love and gratitude, he cheerfully gives the seventh to his God, as an acknowledgment that all was his, and owing to him.  Serving God with our little is the way to make it more; and we must never think that wasted with which God is honored...We are now to express our thankfulness, not by burnt offerings, but by the sacrifices of praise and the sacrifices of righteousness, by pious devotions, and a pious conversation."

Personal Observation Notes on the Parable of the Sower

1. The sower sows the "seed" = word (Luke says "his seed") – in the parable it is classified as:

    a. The Word of the Kingdom (Matthew)

    b. The Word (Mark)

    c. The Word of God (Luke)

2. There are four different kinds of soil (hearer)

    a. The way side

    b. The stony places (Matthew); stony ground (Mark); a rock (Luke)

    c. Thorns (among [the] thorns)

    d. Good ground

3. Regarding the Way Side:

    a. Main description:

        a.1. They hear

        a.2. and understand not

        a.3. "lest they should believe and be saved." (Luke)

    b. Main culprit is Satan: (parallel to "fowls" [Matthew], "fowls of the air" [Mark & Luke])

        b.1. "The wicked one" (Matthew)

        b.2. "Satan" (Mark)

        b.3. "the Devil" (Luke)

    c. Method:

        c.1. He comes and catches away that which was sown in his heart. (Matthew)

        c.2. Satan comes immediately and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. (Mark)

        c.3. comes and takes away the word out of their hearts. (Luke)

  4. Regarding the Stony Places, Stony ground, a rock:

    a. Main description:

        a.1. They hear

        a.2. anon with joy receive it (Matt); immediately receive it with gladness (Mark) receive the word with joy (Luke)

        a.3. not much earth; no deepness of earth; not root in himself; no root (Matt & Mark)

        a.4. lacked moisture (Luke)

        a.5. "for a while believe" (Luke)

    b. Main culprit: these are parallel to the scorching of the sun.

        b.1. Tribulation (Matthew)

        b.2. Persecution (Matthew) [all because of the word, or for the word's sake]

        b.3. Affliction (Mark)

        b.4. Temptation (Luke)

    c. Method:

        c.1. "Withered away" (Matt, Mark) i.e. offended because of the word (Matt./Mark)

        c.3. Endured for a time, but when affliction arise, immediately they are offended. (Mk.)

        c.4. in a time of temptation fall away (Luke)

  5. Regarding the Thorns:

    a. Main description:

        a.1. they hear the word

        a.2. the word is chocked.

    b. Main culprit:

        b.2.1. care(s) of this world (Matt, Mark)

        b.2.2. riches and deceitfulness of riches (Luke, Matthew)

        b.2.3. the lusts of other things (Mark)

        b.2.4. pleasures of this life (Luke)

    c. Method:

        c.1. choked – the thorns grow up with the seed.


 
6. Regarding the Good ground:

    a. Main description: (an honest and good heart – Luke adds to the description)

         Good ground

    b. Results: fruitfulness.

    c. Method:

        c.1. hears the word (Matthew, Mark, Luke)

        c.2. understands it. (Matthew)

        c.3. receive it (Mark)

        c.4. keep it (Luke)

  
Luke adds a warning: "Take heed therefore how ye hear…" (Luke 8:18a).


Scripture references: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:3-20; Luke 8:5-18

A blessed thought from Matthew Henry

No doubt one of the greatest of the commentators of the Scriptures is Matthew Henry (1662-1714).  He began working on his commentary on Nov. of 1704, and ten years later, by the time of his death, he was able to go as far as the book of Acts. The rest (Romans-Revelation) were completed by other ministers and edited by George Burder and John Hughes in 1811.

The main thrust of his commentary seems to be more devotional rather than critical, not that he doesn’t employ some form of criticism or another – but his commentary is unencumbered by such observation and methodology.  He delivers great thoughts that most certainly comes from a heart and mind that is fixed on the Lord and His Word.

As I was reading Henry this morning on Gen. 3:17-19, here is what he said:

“How admirably the satisfaction our Lord Jesus made by his death and sufferings answered to the sentence here passed upon our first parents.  (1.)  Did travailing pains come in with sin?  We read of the travail of Christ’s soul (Isa. 53:11); and the pains of death he was held by are called odinai (Acts 2:24), the pains of a woman in travail.  (2.)  Did subjection come with sin?  Christ was made under the law, Gal. 4:4.  (3.)  Did the curse come in with sin?  Christ was made a curse for us, died a cursed death, Gal. 3:13.  (4.)  Did thorns come in with sin?  He was crowned with thorns for us.  (5.)  Did sweat come in with sin?  He for us did sweat as it were great drops of blood.  (6.)  Did sorrow come in with sin?  He was a man of sorrows, his soul was, in his agony, exceedingly sorrowful.  (7.)  Did death come in with sin?  He became obedient unto death.  This is the plaster as wide as the wound.  Blessed be God for Jesus Christ!”

Now, after reading something like that, I say, wow that was a good read from Matthew Henry.  And somehow in my heart, a prayer flies to Heaven, and with words of gratitude placed upon the Heavenly throne of God, “Amen! Father, Blessed be God for our Lord Jesus Christ.”

He is precious (part 3)

There are three qualities to "preciousness." They are Rarity, intrinsic value, and usefulness. Christ is all that.

He is rare. Consider what the Bible says in John 3:16a “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” That term only begotten is significant because it relates to the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There is just no one like Him. He is the eternally begotten Son of God. Theologians say: God of very God, and begotten but not created. These are phrases that attempt to describe the Lord’s eternality and Sonship. The error of Arianism is the reduction of Christ into a created being. The Bible teaches us that the Son of God pre-existed in eternity past in perfect fellowship with the Father (Gen. 1:27; Isa. 48:16; John 1:1, 14; John 17:5).

The second quality is that of intrinsic value. Christ fulfills this. During the course of a discussion with unbelievers, Christ reveals His Deity in John 8:58 “Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Immediately the Jews began to pick up stones to cast it at Him. This statement places Christ on equal terms with one of God’s sacred names: “I AM” (see Exo. 3:14). In John 5:18 it was the Beloved Apostle that commented regarding the Deity of Christ, when he said: “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.” Indeed Christ is God, therefore He possess value in and of His own self. God is self-existing. He has no need of anyone, or anything. In fact one can easily agree with A.W. Tozer in his book “The Knowledge of the Holy” that “need” is not included in the vocabulary of God.

Last is that quality of usefulness. Christ is useful in every situation. The Bible says: “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25). Jesus saves. Jesus sanctifies. Whether the need is for Salvation or sanctification, Christ secures both. John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” True freedom is found only in Christ. A person can strive all he wants to secure a good living, and have a wonderful life, but until you are right with God through Christ that attempt is futile.

Christ is precious and we who are believers readily acknowledge this. Amen.

He is Precious (part 2)

"(v.4) To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, (v.5) Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (v.6) Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (v.7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner," (1 Peter 2:4-7).

Here in these verses the Lord Jesus Christ is mentioned as being "precious" three times. It is no exaggeration to say that Christ is precious. What a simple and profound truth from the Bible, "He is precious." This truth resonates in the heart of every believer. If you have nothing in you that readily acknowledges the fact of the preciousness of Christ, then the problem may be one of not being saved, see also 1 Cor.16:22. Having been saved from sin, death, Satan, and Hell, it is no wonder why Christ is precious to His saints.

He is Precious (part 1)

"Unto you therefore which believe, He is precious..." (1 Peter 2:7a)

Peter's epistles to the Hebrew Christians presents a survey of what is precious. In 1 and 2 Peter you will find that there are five precious things:

A. 1 Peter 1:7 -
"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:" When Christian's take a stand for Jesus Christ, they can expect persecutions. This friction is viewed by many as adversity, but God views it as precious. When we respond Biblically to suffering and testings then our pain is converted to praise, and that praise belongs to God.

B. 1 Peter 1:18-19 -
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" The blood of Christ, that mysterious substance that was shed on Calvary which wrought our atonement, that substance that is incorruptible, able to remove every stain of sin, able to secure our redemption. His blood is precious, because it was not sinful. Christ's virgin birth, that great mystery of Godliness, enabled the Second person of the blessed Trinity, the Eternal, and Only Begotten Son of God to occupy human flesh to be offered up as a sacrifice unto God on behalf of sinful man. Praise God for the shed blood of Jesus Christ that still speaks better things than that of Able.

C. 2 Peter 1:1 -
"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Savior Jesus Christ:" If you have a need or a want, here on Earth, you need to have cash (or credit) because money is the medium of exchange. Now in Heaven, cash doesn't mean a thing. In Heaven, the street is paved with gold. In God's economy, the medium of exchange is faith. It is faith that allows us to receive from the good and gracious hand of God the things that we both need and want. We go to God in prayer by faith. We give to God in worship by faith. We move and do things for God by faith. Truly the just shall live by faith. Faith is precious.

D. 2 Peter 1:4 -
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." God's Word contains many a promises to us as Christians, and those promises are truly an anchor to our souls. When trials and testings come our way, and we do not where to turn to, indeed we know where to go. We go to the Bible. We begin to feed our souls with Word of God. We find a promise or two or three and we hang on to it. It strengthen's us. It renews us. Praise God for His precious promises. Praise God that we have His Word in the King James Bible.

E. 1 Peter 2:7-8 -
"Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed." I purposefully saved this point for last. Christ is precious. This truth is a simple and yet grand truth that easily resonates in the heart of every born again, blood bought, believer.