Good morning, friends. I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom with Christian Liberty Academy School System. Welcome to There's No Place Like Home. We continue today with the subject of preparing our children for persecution and suffering for the sake of Christ. And today we look at two passages from 1 Peter. The first comes from chapter 2, verses 11 and 12, which reads, Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul. having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. Although persecution is a reality for some believers already in our nation, the much greater threat to the church right now and to most Christians would be the fleshly lusts which war against our souls. And so if you hope to endure persecution, then you can't be playing games with God in terms of temptations and desires. We must turn from them. Now there are many other important passages in 1 Peter dealing with the subject of suffering, but one final passage to briefly consider is 1 Peter 5, 8 and 9. These verses read, be sober, be vigilant. because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Now we are called to resist the devil, that is to stand up against the devil and his schemes, not through special formulas or words directed against the devil and his demons. How do we resist? We resist by remaining firm in the faith. We and our children must know sound doctrine, and we must seek then to obey God's truth. In this way, Satan is withstood. As Peter reminds us, this is a battle that Christians face everywhere. We know that many Christians in many nations face even greater challenge because of government-sponsored or government-encouraged persecution. Thankfully, we are not at that point in our nation, but together with faithful Christians around the world, we must stand in the truth of God's word. Let us teach our children about standing firm. For Christian Liberty Academy School System, I am Pastor Calvin Lindstrom. See you in two weeks, Lord willing, at 8.30 a.m. Central Time. May God bless.
