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Welcome to the first post for Application After Thoughts! You may ask: “What is it?” “Why have it?”  “How do I use it?”  These are all great questions, and I will address them before I dive into the actual thought.  Application After Thoughts is a weekly blog post that dives a little deeper into application of the sermon from the previous Sunday. It is to be a help to the church in helping think through application of the sermon throughout the week, and to encourage being doers of the Word and not hearers only (James 1:22).  Sermons should not be secluded to Sunday, but instead affect our lives the whole week…and beyond. This blog is available to be used in a variety of ways, whether to think through things more on your own, or to see another person’s perspective on personal application, or to talk/work through with someone else. Specific application steps and/or application questions to think through will be provided as well! I pray that it would be a benefit to you spiritually and that the Word of God will dwell in your richly (Col. 3:16)!              

Our first Application After Thought is for the last sermon of the series ‘How to Live like an Alien.’ Our text is 1 Peter 5:12-14. Peter’s exhortation to stand firm in the grace of God assumes that our natural posture is the opposite, i.e., we don’t stand firm. I would like us to consider two ways that we don’t stand firm.  

The first way is that we don’t stand in the right thing. Peter exhorts us to “stand firm” in the “true grace of God.” In the immediate context, as Pastor Danny drew out, this grace is Peter’s entire letter of exhortation and, by implication, the whole Word of God.

However, when trials arise, other things battle to be our ‘stand.’ I sometimes rely on my own wisdom, thinking about what I want to do in the trial rather than turning to the Word for what God wants me to do. A desire for quick relief from the trial can arise rather than turning to God and knowing how He comes to you and how you can know Him better through the trial.

God’s Word is the firm foundation that He has exhorted you to stand on. It is the only foundation that never shakes. Trust that His intention for you to obey through the trial is for your good!  

Application Question: What battles to be your ‘stand’ in times of trial instead of the true grace of God in his Word?  

The second way we don’t stand firm is that we don’t remain firm. Although we may stand for a moment, it is only that, a moment. A soldier who has been given orders to stand their ground will stay there until told otherwise. Not only will the soldier be found unfaithful if he doesn’t, but the enemy also gains a foothold. When you and I abandon our true stand or stand on other things besides the grace of God in the Word, the devouring lion, the devil, gains a foothold in our hearts.

We must resist the temptation to move from the firm foundation. Persevere in trusting and acting upon the Word of truth. Hold fast in your position, standing on the Word, because God will give that grace to persevere as well.  

Application Question: Are you tempted to move from the firm foundation of the grace of God’s Word? What do you need to remain firm (persevere) in right now?