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Sermon:
Stablishment
by Chris Cumming
Open your Bibles to 1 Peter 5:10
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle you.
What does this verse mean when it says “make
you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”?
What does God mean, “after I have suffered for a while”?
What, I have to suffer a little? Why must I suffer?
Why is God referred to as the “God of all grace.”? Why is
this phrase all-important to this verse?
Why is God including in this verse the statement that we are
being called unto His eternal glory?
Today, we will explore all these questions as I encourage
all of us to something called Stablishment.
Let me read this verse again…
1 Peter 5:10
But the God of all grace, who hath called us
unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen,
settle you.
This single verse is perfectly written. It
contains 7 perfect phrases or parts. Put all together they
express great truths about God, Christ, and the Salvation
Process. Let us begin by looking at the meaning of four key
works in the verse: “Perfect”, “Stablish”, “Strengthen” and
“Settle.”
Perfect: NT:2675 katartizo (kat-ar-tid'-zo)
--to complete thoroughly, i.e. repair
(literally or figuratively) or adjust:
Rendered: - fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect
(-ly join together), prepare, restore. –Strong’s
Used in 1 Corinthians 1:10 where it says…
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and
that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be
perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same
judgment.
Stablish: NT:4741
sterizo (stay-rid'-zo)
--- to set fast, i.e. (literally) to turn
resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to
confirm:
Strengthen: NT:4599 sthenoo (sthen-o'-o)
--- to strengthen, i.e. (figuratively)
confirm (in spiritual knowledge and power):
Settle: NT:2311
themelioo (them-el-ee-o'-o)
--- to lay a basis for, i.e. (literally)
erect, or (figuratively) consolidate:
These words in this verse are talking about God…
Repairing, Adjusting, Confirming,
Consolidating and Completing us. How does He do
this?
The answer is found in the third phrase of our verse:
“…after ye have suffered a while…”
Notice some scriptures…
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and
exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must
through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
2 Cor 1:5-7
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in
us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation
and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the
same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be
comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing,
that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be
also of the consolation.
Phil 3:7-11
7 But what things were gain to me, those I
counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but
loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is
through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith:
10 That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being
made conformable unto his death;
11 If by any means I might attain unto the
resurrection of the dead.
So through trials, persecutions and
tribulations God:
Stablishes you:
Turns you to a right direction.
Strengthens you:
Confirms you in spiritual knowledge and power. The Word of
God strengthens us. God through His Word strengthens us.
Settles you: God
lays the basis of your existence, that is, your foundation
and in doing so justifies you.
In other words, God uses trials to turn us in
the right direction. Through God’s Word we gain spiritual
knowledge and power to withstand the trial, understand the
direction God is taking us and to ultimately justify us in
the Salvation Process, which IS the foundation.
At this point we have seen the key words at the end of the
verse [“Perfect”, “Stablish”, “Strengthen” and “Settle”
you].
I will now look at the meanings of all seven phrases using
some Bible commentaries.
[But the God of all grace] The God who imparts all
needful grace. It was proper in their anticipated trials to
direct them to God, and to breathe forth in their behalf an
earnest and affectionate prayer that they might be
supported. A prayer of this kind by an apostle would also be
to them a sort of pledge or assurance that the needed grace
would be granted them.
[But the God of all grace] The Fountain of infinite
compassion, mercy, and goodness.
[But the God of all grace] But the God
of all grace. Peter has enjoined upon them the graces
consistent with their calling. He now commits them to the
God of all grace
[But the God of all grace] To God, as
it source, all grace is to be referred: He in grace
completes what in grace He began.
Summation of the first phrase:
Direct all trials toward God. Direct your existence in the
Salvation Process toward God. It is by grace that you are
in the Salvation Process.
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[Who hath called us unto His eternal glory]
And who means, therefore, that we shall be saved. As He has
called us to His glory, we need not apprehend that He will
leave or forsake us.
The other commentary break it into three parts:
[Who hath called us] By the preaching of the Gospel.
[Unto his eternal glory] To the
infinite felicity of the heavenly state.
[By Christ Jesus] Through the merit of
His passion and death, by the influence of His Holy Spirit,
by the precepts of His Gospel, and by the splendor of His
own example.
Summation of the second phrase:
God has called us to eternal life in the Family of God by
Jesus Christ, both by His shed blood and by His example that
we should follow it…follow Him.
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[After that ye have suffered a while]
After you have suffered as long as He shall appoint. The
Greek is, "having suffered a little," and may refer either
to time or degree. In both respects the declaration
concerning afflictions is true. They are short, compared
with eternity; they are light, compared with the exceeding
and eternal weight of glory.
[After that ye have suffered a while] Having suffered
a little time; that is, while ye are enduring these
persecutions, God will cause all to work together for your
good.
Summation for the third phrase:
Continuing from the second phrase…
1] we follow Christ in His sufferings. He suffered, so we
suffer.
2]Suffering is the catalyst of the Salvation Process.
Through trials and tribulations, we are molded in character
and form.
3] God causes all these trials to work out to GOOD:
Rom 8:28
And we know that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called
according to his purpose.
Finally, this suffering is short! These tribulations are
short in duration when compared to eternity in the Kingdom.
They are light when compared to the weight of glory or
salvation. Notice three encouraging verses:
Rom 8:18
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this
present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.
2 Cor 4:17-18
17 For our light affliction, which is but for
a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things
which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not
seen are eternal.
Matt 5:11-12
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you,
and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against
you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great
is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the
prophets which were before you.
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The final four phrases describe the results of all these
trials, tribulations and sufferings.
[Make you perfect] By means of your
trials. The tendency of affliction is to make us perfect.
[He will make you perfect] Put you in
complete joint as the timbers of a building.
[He will make you perfect] Vulgate;
Coptic versions read 'Shall Himself perfect (so that there
shall be nothing defective in you.).
Summation for the fourth phrase:
Trials perfect us. God, Himself will perfects us via these
trials.
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[Stablish] The Greek word means "to
set fast; to fix firmly; to render immovable. Notice a verse
for this one…
Rom 16:25-26
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish
you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus
Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which
was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the
scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of
the everlasting God, …
And now the other commentary…
[Stablish] Make you firm in every part; adapt you
strongly to each other, so that you may be mutual supports,
the whole building being one in the Lord. And now a verse
for this one…
1 Thess 3:12-13
12 And the Lord make you to increase and
abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even
as we do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Summation for the 5th
phrase: Through tribulation, God
makes us firm. He gives us resolve. He makes us unmovable,
as from the narrow path of the Salvation Process. Notice
too that what He does with the individual, He does with the
church.
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[Strengthen] Give you strength to bear
all this.
[Strengthen] Cramp and bind every part, so that there
shall be no danger of warping, splitting, or falling.
[Strengthen] shall fill you with
might, shall put you upon a firm foundation.
Remember here that this is the book of Peter. Remember what
Jesus said to Peter way back during His ministry?
Luke 22:32
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith
fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy
brethren.
This is exactly what Peter is doing in this letter.
Summation for the 6th
phrase: God is at our side in
each trial. We are never alone in tribulation. The
strength we need both in suffering and in the Salvation
Process itself comes from Him. He supplies abundant power.
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[Settle you] Literally, found you, or
establish you on a firm foundation. The allusion is to a
house which is so firmly fixed on a foundation that it will
not be moved by winds or floods.
[Settle] Cause all to rest so evenly and firmly upon
the best and surest foundation, that ye may grow together to
a holy temple in the Lord: in a word, that ye may be
complete in all the mind that was in Christ; supported in
all your trials and difficulties; strengthened to resist and
overcome all your enemies; and after all abide, firmly
founded, in the truth of grace. All these phrases are
architectural; and the apostle has again in view the fine
image which he produced 1 Peter 2:5.
1 Peter 2:5
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.
Summation of the 7th
phrase: This is the embodiment of
spiritual maturity. This single verse transcends the moment
God first contemplated man all the way through to glorious
salvation.
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Up to this point we have defined both words
and phrases and even combined all seven phrases into one
single concept. Now we get full immersed. Now we show the
linkage of each phrase to the rest of the Word of God and
thereby confirm its meaning and make this verse a part of
our heart and mind.
“The God of all grace”:
Ex 34:6-7
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and
proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious,
longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving
iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no
means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers
upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto
the third and to the fourth generation.
Ps 86:5
5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to
forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon
thee.
Ps 86:15
15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of
compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in
mercy and truth.
“Who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus”:
These scriptures particular to Godly calling:
1 Cor 1:9
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto
the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Thess 2:12
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath
called you unto his kingdom and glory.
2 Thess 2:14
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of
the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Tim 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on
eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast
professed a good profession before many witnesses.
2 Tim 1:9
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his
own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus
before the world began,
1 Peter 1:15
But as he which hath called you is holy, so
be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
This one particular to “by Christ Jesus”:
Heb 9:15
And for this cause he is the mediator of the
new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of
the transgressions that were under the first testament, they
which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance.
“After that ye have suffered a while”:
I have already given you Romans 8:18 [our suffering is
not worthy to be compared] and 2 Cor. 4:17-18 [speaking
of our light affliction]. Add these…
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for
a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold
temptations:
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 honour and
glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Ps 30:5
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his
favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy
cometh in the morning.
Isa 54:8
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for
a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on
thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.
“Make you perfect”:
Heb 13:21
Make you perfect in every good work to do his
will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his
sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and
ever. Amen.
Jude 24
Now unto him that is able to keep you from
falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of
his glory with exceeding joy,
Matt 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father
which is in heaven is perfect.
2 Cor 13:9
For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are
strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that
ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
“Stablish [you]”:
Col 2:7
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in
the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving.
2 Thess 2:17
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in
every good word and work.
2 Thess 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish
you, and keep you from evil.
“Strengthen [you]”:
Ps 138:7
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou
wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against
the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
Zech 10:12
And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and
they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.
Phil 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me.
Isa 40:29-31
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them
that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall:
31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as
eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall
walk, and not faint.
Eph 3:16
That he would grant you, according to the
riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his
Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord,
and in the power of his might.
“Settle [you]”: This word is derived from and
related to the concepts of “foundation”, “grounded securely”
“being rooted.” Notice some verses. Also notice how they
all relate to Christ being in a spiritually mature
firstfruit, which is to say we have become like Him.
Eph 3:17
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Col 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so
walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished
in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with
thanksgiving.
1 Peter 4:11—describing a person spiritually mature and
fully immersed in the Word of God.
If any man speak, let him speak as the
oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the
ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be
glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Mat 7:21-28—speaking to how we must be
settled to enter Kingdom
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord,
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that
doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name
have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man,
which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it
fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings
of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish
man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods
came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it
fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended
these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
What all these verses do is to verify each phrase of 1 Peter
5:10. Moreover, they repeat the concepts of the verse,
taking us from…
1] Godly inception—coming up with His plan.
2] His calling us.
3] Taking us through the Salvation Process.
4] Allowing trials and tribulations to direct us and build
strength and character in us.
5] Putting us on a foundation of full spiritual maturity.
6] Finally taking us into the Kingdom of God.
I want to leave you now with some verses of encouragement
that all link back to 1 Peter 5:10 and speak mostly to
enduring tribulations in our lives.
Rom 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations
also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
Rom 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Rom 12:12
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation;
continuing instant in prayer;
2 Cor 1:4
Who comforteth us in all our tribulation,
that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted
of God.
John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in
me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have
tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
1 Peter 4:12-16
12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning
the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange
thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers
of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of
Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God
resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on
your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer,
or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other
men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let
him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
Rev 2:10
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.
Phil 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he
which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until
the day of Jesus Christ:
So stay immersed in the Word of God. Keep
this verse close in your heart. Keep moving forward in the
Salvation Process. Do this and you will be part of God’s…
Stablishment |