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Category Archives: Faith

Don’t Be Unaware

Don’t Be Unaware

In this post we’ll finish our walk through the book of 1 Peter. In my last post he exhorted us to resist the devil.

We saw that the enemy is out to directly attack your calling in Christ. Peter is probably thinking back to his days with the Lord. Jesus gave him a warning.

Jesus knew that Satan desired to bring Peter (Simon) down. He wanted to put him in a position where his faith would fail. The enemy wanted an easy kill. In Peter’s case it was the accusation of a slave girl.

James tells us that if we resist the devil, he’ll flee (James 4:7). This should be our first response to the enemy.

According to Peter, it’s because we know something valuable. We know that our brothers and sisters in Christ are undergoing the same kinds of attacks.

That literally means that we know by seeing others going through the same stuff as us. Because of their examples of faith under pressure, we can follow in their footsteps. Along with that, we know where this road of faith is leading.

Praise the Lord, we serve the God of all grace! He has called us to eternal, unending glory. Yes, there may be a little suffering now. But soon we will be restored and strengthened. He will plant us firmly in our calling.

At one point in his ministry, the Apostle Paul pleaded this the Lord to remove the attacks of the enemy. He got this response from God.

The God of all grace was working in and through him. Yes, we have an enemy, but we also have a mission to complete, examples to follow, and a great God at work with us. Don’t become a casualty. Be a mighty, victorious warrior in these last days.

Peter ends his letter with some final greetings.

© 2026 Nick Zaccardi

 

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Resisting the Enemy

Resisting the Enemy

As we go through Peter’s first epistle to the church, he’s been teaching us to be “battle ready”. We need to be spiritually awake and sober for the struggles we’ll face. He tells us that the enemy is stalking us like a lion.

This word, resist, means to stand against. And not just to stand, but remain stiff, solid, and unmovable. But, how are we to accomplish this?

The apostle qualifies it by saying that this standing is in faith. We are firmly trusting God that His way is the only option. But what exactly does it mean to “resist the devil”?

Unfortunately, many Christians have no idea what this means. They think it’s simply talking about resisting temptation. The fact is that resisting temptation is against your own natural tendencies.

James 1:14 tells us that temptation happens when we’re dragged away by our own desires. There are times that the Scriptures teach us to flee the place of temptation.

Here, Peter is telling us to resist the devil – the accuser. Don’t fall victim to the cartoon where the devil is sitting on your shoulder trying to get you to sin. He’s not going to waste his time trying to accomplish what your flesh is already doing.
The devil is actually out to destroy your calling.

He wants to steal. He is attempting to take what’s not his. He wants to steal your children, money, or health.

The enemy also wants to kill. That word specifically means to sacrifice. He doesn’t want to take your life, but to sacrifice you on the altar of the world. He’ll distract you with everything the world has to offer.

His end-goal is to destroy you. That word means to destroy fully and totally. His plan is to absolutely abolish your witness for Christ. To do so, he’ll attack your family, your health, or anything else important to you.

He’s not trying to get you to say a white lie. He’s trying to destroy your God-given mission. Yes, you have mission from the Lord.

That’s why in the Gospels we’re told that his attack on Jesus started with the words, “If you are the Son of God…” The enemy directly comes against your calling.

That’s why we’re told to “stand firm in faith”. You need to be rock solid in what you believe. You’ve heard from God. You know what you’re called to do. Don’t let the enemy undermine it.

© Nick Zaccardi 2026

 
 

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Weak vs Strong Faith (Repost)

Weak vs Strong Faith (Repost)

I’m taking a couple of weeks off from writing, so I’m reposting some of my most popular articles.

Here’s Paul’s illustration of how we should walk in faith.

This is one of those amazing verses in the Scripture. To fully grasp it, we need to understand what the meaning of hope is in the Bible.

When we use the word, hope, it usually means that we’re wishing for something good to happen. “I hope I win the lottery.”

That’s not what this word means in the context of Scripture. It actually means to look forward to with expectation. “I place my hope in the fact that the sun will come up tomorrow.”

With this knowledge, we can see how Abraham operated. He was in a situation where, logically, there was nothing to expect. Yet, by placing his faith in God’s Word, he fully expected to have a multitude of offspring.

This is the tough part. I’ve talked about not walking in denial in the past. That’s the key to this kind of faith.

The verse literally says that Abraham fully observed the facts of his situation. He was almost 100 years old and considered himself already dead. He understood that under no circumstances could his wife, Sarah, have any children.

What amazes me is that even though he had all of these facts before him, he didn’t weaken his faith. But that brings up an interesting question. He already had an heir picked out that was not in his family. How can you say that he didn’t weaken his faith?

As a matter of fact, he had already picked out an heir for his estate. He chose one of his most trusted servants (Genesis 15:2-3).

We need to understand exactly what is meant by weak faith. There’s a clear verse about it.

What is weak faith? It means that you don’t trust God to complete His work in you. You feel that you have to establish rules to follow so that you won’t accidentally sin. Weak faith has the idea that if I follow these rules, then I’ll please God and receive His blessing.

Abraham picked out an heir without weakening his faith. That tells me that I do what I need to do as if nothing special will happen. But, at the same time, I fully expect the Lord to intervene on my behalf.

I can see my doctor, take my pills, and pay my bills. At the same time I trust God for my health and provision.

Some people think that they’re operating in faith by never seeing a doctor. It’s actually a sign of weak faith because they can’t trust God to manage what the doctor might tell them.

Weak faith has to set rules and boundaries so that we can deny any problems. Strong faith can look straight at the problems and trust God for the solution.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on October 8, 2025 in Faith, Spiritual Walk

 

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Saved Through Difficulty

Saved Through Difficulty

We’re continuing our walk through the epistle of 1 Peter. I’ve been sharing about trials and difficulties. In my last post I talked about how our right choices can bring glory to God.

Today we’ll look at another frequently misunderstood Scripture.

Some people look at this verse and use it as an excuse for their legalism. They have a list of rules that if any of them are broken, you’ll lose your salvation.

Jesus Christ went to the cross and gave His life to save us. I hardly think that it would then be God’s will for us to lose that salvation and end up in hell on a legal technicality.

Yes, this verse does say that the righteous are saved with difficult toil. This is the part that many use to teach that it’s harder to stay saved than it was to get saved. But it all comes down to the fact that they don’t understand what “saved” means. Scripturally, to be saved means to be delivered and protected. Understand this; because of Christ’s work on the cross, we’re not just saved from hell. We’re also saved form sickness, poverty, sin, depression, and all that would harm us.

The simple truth is that it’s difficult toil to bring salvation into my finances, my home, my mind, and my workplace. In saying this, Peter asks an interesting question.

It’s a very complicated question in the Greek language. But it all comes down to this: If we consider it painful toil to bring this salvation into our lives – how will non-worshippers and sinners become enlightened?

So, I will make the tough choices – in order for the world to see His light and glory. I base that upon the Scriptural context. This life is not all about me. The world needs me to be strong in the Lord so that they can see and understand this Good News.

As long as we have the attitude, “I’m not going to go to hell as long as I…” we’ll never be effective. The real question is “How many others around me will go to hell if I don’t live up to my salvation?”

I need to make sure that if I suffer, it’s according to His will. That means it’s God’s choice, purpose, and determination for my life. If that’s the case then I am presenting my soul in well-doing before my Faithful Creator.

When I make the choice to follow the Lord’s plan, I put myself on the altar. Paul says the same thing in his writings.

That word, granted, means given to you as a favor. God has done us a favor by letting us participate in His sufferings. It’s time to stop thinking all about myself and embrace the trials.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
 

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The Time for Right Choices

The Time for Right Choices

As we go through 1 Peter, I’ve been talking about suffering for doing right. We’ve seen that the suffering is knowing that you could take the easy way out but choose to do right anyway.

Peter continues with this thought.

There are wrong choices that carry severe consequences if you get caught. However, that’s not the suffering he wants us to focus on.

The right choice is to live as a Christian. That word means you’re a follower or representative of Christ. It may be a modern cliché, but the truth is we should always ask; what would Jesus do? Or, even better, what would Jesus say? The world will always judge Christianity by what we do.

This is a verse that’s frequently misunderstood. It’s all about understanding the season we’re living in. We’re in the last days before the Lord’s return.

According to this verse, it’s the set time for judgment to begin. That word, judgment, simply means decisions; specifically, the decisions made by God. In context, these decisions God makes are based upon our choices.

God sets up trials (faith experiments) for us. When we make the right choices, our faith is proved genuine, and God gets the glory. It becomes clear what we believe and is a witness to the world.

Now, those we share Christ with have to make the choice. Will they choose for or against the Lord? What will the outcome be? Hopefully, they’ll choose to obey the Good News they’ve seen and heard.

That’s the season we’re in right now. More and more, God is going to place us in the spotlight. Will we bring glory to God, or push our own political agenda?

We are not on this earth to promote a man-made philosophy, no matter how good we think it is. We’re here to lift up Christ and share His work of salvation with the world.

With the rise of social media, we have an unprecedented ability to share this Good News with masses of people. Yet what many believers get involved in is hatred, division, and blatant disrespect. God cannot and will not bless that kind of behavior.

It’s time for God’s people to make right choices. We need to be proclaiming Christ. That’s the season we live in. Choose to live as a representative of Christ.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 

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Trials and Attitudes

Trials and Attitudes

We’re going through the Apostle Peter’s first letter. At this point he’s been dealing with leadership characteristics. He’s now going into a subject that is especially applicable in our generation.

The apostle has already talked about having a self-controlled mind, love, hospitality, and administering God’s grace. That’s not an easy calling. However, I believe that the number one thing on the horizon for the church is an increase in tribulations.

We’re in the last days and it’s not going to be easy as we approach the return of Christ. You may not like it, but the last days requires us to participate in the sufferings of Christ.

Peter tells us not to be surprised when a trial is ignited. He literally says that when these trials come, don’t think that something alien is walking with you.

That brings up the question; what is a trial? That word actually is talking about a trial as in an experiment. It’s when you’re trying to prove or disprove a theory.

So, this is really a faith experiment. The goal is to see whether your faith is real or not.

The first thing we see is what they’re not. Trials are not a strange thing. They’re a normal part of life as a believer. This is how growth takes place.

We like the “not lacking anything” part. But the words “many kinds” would imply that these trials are showing up all the time.

James says it’s to be considered as pure joy, and Peter agrees.

We’re told to be happy, cheerful, well-off. Consider trials a joyful thing. But there’s a catch. Peter literally says to rejoice in the proportion that you share Christ’s suffering.

That means you must first understand the suffering of Christ in order to know if you are participating in it. This is one of the most important things we can grasp as Christians.

I’m going to go into this in detail in my next post.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on September 26, 2025 in Faith, Return of Christ, Spiritual Walk

 

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The Attitude of Change

The Attitude of Change

We’re studying through the first epistle of Peter. In my last post, I began talking about taking on the attitude of Christ.

Our lives will begin to change when we take on the attitude of Christ. That means taking on the Lord’s burden for the lost. The problem is that we’re afraid of what will change if we’re burdened with the same burden God has.

Peter literally writes that this happens because he that is burdened has stopped, paused from sin. Unfortunately, in many instances we like sin. We can’t see how we can enjoy life without it.

Also, we don’t want to be viewed as alien. We want to be accepted by the world. We want what the world is after. It’s all about our attitude.

The simple fact is that a change in attitude leads to change in direction. Taking on an attitude like Christ will lead us away from sin.

We spend so much time struggling to stop sin. But, according to the apostle, the way to defeat sin is to pick up a new attitude from Christ. Then sin will be on hold.

Peter then brings us to the result of all this. The original Greek of verse 2 tells us that taking on the attitude of Christ will cause you to reach the point where you no longer exist in the flesh lusting of men.

It’s having the attitude of Christ that overcomes the flesh. That’s because your mind is in control of the flesh. So, your flesh spends all its time trying to convince the mind to agree with him.

But, if your mind has an attitude like Christ, it will never agree. If your mind is burdened to fulfill the will of God, it doesn’t have time to listen to the flesh.

Peter’s conclusion is that an attitude like Christ leads us toward God’s will. So, how do you fulfill God’s will for your life? ATTITUDE!!!

The Apostle Paul said the same thing.

If you renew your mind to pick up His attitude, then you can test and approve God’s will. God’s will is not something you can know. It’s something you test and approve by faith.

So, if you want to see transformative change in your life, then you need to renew your mind by God’s Word. Only then will your life have a true change of direction.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on July 7, 2025 in Faith, Spiritual Walk, Word of God

 

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Once For All Victory

Once For All Victory

We’re continuing our study through 1 Peter. The apostle has been talking about suffering because you’re living righteously. He gives us the conclusion.

Now he goes on to give us the example of Christ.

I love that phrase, “once for all.” Let me explain. I live in the Boston area. I have to admit that I was excited when the New England Patriots won the Superbowl year after year. That probably doesn’t sound very spiritual.

Actually, there’s a truth here that we need to understand. It hurts me to tell you this, but once the Superbowl is over, every team is tied for last place.

When you look at the world of sports, the game gets reset every year. What you did last season doesn’t mean anything during the next season.

From this point on it’s all about winning next year. In our society, championships are a temporary thing. You can be a world champion today and scraping the bottom the next season.

I’m glad Jesus wasn’t this kind of champion. The victory that He won was once and for all. There will be no rematch, no do overs, and no replays. It is finished.

Under the Old Covenant it was much different. The death of a bull or goat today had no power to help you a year later. The sacrifices had to be repeated over and over again.

The work that Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross will never lose its effectiveness. It will never fade or wear out. The Lord is eternally victorious.

But there’s more to the story. Christ has passed this victory on to all who will trust in Him.

As I said before – I’m glad for the Patriots past victories. The problem is that their victory didn’t do anything for me. After the Superbowl, my health, finances, and attitudes were the same as they were before. They got the glory, and I got to watch.

Christ, on the other hand, allowed me to share in His victory. Even though there was nothing I could to do to help, I benefit from all that He did. All I had to do was to trust in Him as my Lord and Savior.

In one decisive act, Jesus Christ accomplished freedom, salvation, healing, and restoration for all. We just need to get in on it by faith in Him.

Spend some time with the Lord today. Let His victory spill over into your life. Don’t walk around as if you’re defeated, hoping to win the next round. You can walk in his freedom right now.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 

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A Good Conscience

A Good Conscience

We’re currently going through Peter’s first epistle. In my last post, I talked about how to be prepared to answer those who ask about the hope driving your actions.

Continuing with that thought, there’s an assumption that you’re watching your attitude. When we deal with the unsaved, we need to keep our emotions in check. We must not operate in an arrogant or condemning manner.

When we act in a “holier than thou” way, we actually push people away from the Gospel. They need to understand that we had issues as well. The only difference between them and us is Christ.

Most importantly, we must hold on to a good conscience. We need to guard our conscience from anything that would stain it. What does this mean?

The Greek word for conscience, literally means seeing together. It’s how we view the totality of our life and actions. It’s not about just one incident that happened 3 years ago.

Too many believers find themselves stuck because they’re continually replaying a mistake they made years ago. You are washed by the blood of Christ if you repented of it. Stop letting the past keep you from your destiny in the Lord.

The real question is; am I living for self, or becoming like Christ? That’s what’s the important aspect of our conscience.

Paul explained the same thing to his spiritual son, Timothy. We need this to become effective in ministry.

How can you trust God if your own mind is accusing you of disobedience? In that case, your faith is being shipwrecked. If you haven’t done it yet, go before God and repent over those areas of guilt. Then move on in Christ.

These four things that Peter dealt with in chapter 3, are the bedrock for being victorious in trials. Don’t fear what the world fears, set apart Christ as Lord, be ready to explain your hope, and hold on to a good conscience.

The result of these characteristics is worth the hardship. Peter explains why in verse 16. He says that even though those in the world may publicly slander you as criminals, privately they will actually be ashamed of themselves.

By living this way, you’re giving the Holy Spirit something to work with. He can bring conviction into the hearts of those who know you. The Lord is able to “ripen” their hearts to receive the Gospel message.

Eventually, the Lord will lead someone, maybe even you, to share Christ with them. At that time, they’ll be ready and willing to bow their knee to the Lord and accept Him as their Savior.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on June 11, 2025 in Faith, Ministry, The Gospel

 

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Be Prepared

Be Prepared

We’re continuing our walk through 1 Peter. In my last post, I started talking about living a radically righteous life. When you live “all in” for Christ, you start to get some resistance from the world, but we don’t have to be afraid.

Now Peter continues with this thought.

The next thing Peter tells us is to revere Christ as Lord. That word, revere, actually means to set apart. In our hearts, we must set Christ apart as Lord. This is the absolute key.

Many Christians have set themselves in that position. They act as the lords of their own life. Christ is merely an advisor.

It’s like the bumper sticker I’ve seen from time to time. “God is my co-pilot.” In my opinion, if God is your co-pilot, then you have a fool for a pilot.

Much of the problem is that we have no concept of what a lord is in our culture. The lord is the supreme ruler. Saying, “No Lord,” is not an option.

We know from Scripture that at the judgment, every created being will declare the Lordship of Christ. Every knee WILL bow. So, why not acknowledge it now. Don’t wait until you have no choice but to admit it.

Your submission to Christ will be obvious to those around you. You have to be ready for it. Peter explains how we should be prepared.

We’re told to be ready at all times. But, ready to do what? Ready to give an answer. That’s a Greek word from which we get our English word, apology.

That Greek word is actually a technical judicial term. It means your final defense of  your actions. We must always beready to explain our actions. Remember, Peter is talking about doing radical goodness.

This is the basis for a powerful witness for Christ. You live a cutting edge, radically good lifestyle. That’s what gets people’s attention.

It prompts people to ask, “Why do you live like that?”

Remember what the verse says. Give an answer to everyone who asks. Sometimes our trouble is that we want to explain to those who don’t care.

When He saw the crowds of people coming towards Him to hear His words, Jesus told His disciples to look at the fields that are white for harvest. We’ve got to be looking for the white fields. Not everyone is ready to hear the good news.

They want a particular explanation. They want to understand the hope that’s driving us to do what we do. That’s especially true when we show love in a way the world never could.

So, live radically for Christ and be ready to explain God’s goodness to those around you.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on June 2, 2025 in Faith, Ministry, The Gospel

 

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