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Category Archives: Revival

Ready for Inspection

Ready for Inspection

We’re continuing through Peter’s first letter. He’s been writing about who we’re called to be in Christ. He wants all believers to live up to their calling.

Now he talks about what the world sees in us.

Peter makes a very interesting statement here that we should take note of, especially in this generation. The opening phrase literally reads that we should busy ourselves, being seen as good and valuable among those in the world.

This brings into question how the world sees us acting on social media. (Yes, I’m going to go there!) How do we treat each other in front of the world? Everything we say and do is public, for all to see these days.

We need to live our lives with the knowledge that everything we say or do is noticed on the world stage. They’re going to judge our Lord based upon how we act or treat each other.

We need to start reflecting the attitudes of Christ more and more in our online dealings. And we’re to live this way, even if we’re accused of doing wrong. That’s true even when we’re labeled as haters for speaking truth.

This verse says that the world will inspect the good works which come out of your life. Then, will glorify God on the day of His visitation. It’s interesting that this phrase means the day of inspection.

That brings up a good question. What is this day of visitation? First of all, I don’t believe that it’s talking about the second coming of Christ. It sounds like a temporary thing for only a season.

Jesus told the people of Jerusalem that they would be judged for not perceiving it.

This is the same phrase used by Peter. They would be conquered because they didn’t recognize their day of visitation.

We read some of the promises of God in the Scripture. Then, we think that when the list of qualifications for a promise is met – we get the fulfillment.

In reality, God sets a day of inspection. We may have already met the criteria at some point. But then, if we don’t continue in that way of life, we fail the inspection and don’t obtain the promise.

God wants the world to see His blessing on our lives. But, in order for that to happen, we must live for Him on a consistent basis. We can’t be trying to live for Christ and ourselves at the same time.

Paul said it well.

It’s time for the church to be who God says we are. Especially online in front of the world. We must always realize that we’re constantly under inspection.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 

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Who Are We? Part 2

Who Are We? Part 2

As we go through 1 Peter, we’re now in chapter 2 looking at Peter’s description of the church. This is the legacy that we’re striving to live up to.

In my last post, I talked about believers as a chosen people and a royal priesthood. The next thing Peter calls us is a holy nation. This literally speaks of a holy, set apart, ethnic group.

The fact is that we have a new ethnicity, no matter where our families are from originally. We are a part of a new race of people.

We must come to the realization that we’re a holy race. A race has a particular set of customs and attributes. This usually includes their own language. A race of people have their own view of how the world works.

That should be the attitude of our life in the body of Christ. That’s why there’s no place for prejudice or bigotry in the church. We are a new group of people tied together in the bonds of the Spirit.

Peter goes on to call us a people belonging to God. This means that we’re a people group who were acquired into a particular time, place, or purpose.

Based on the context, this tells me that we’re a people acquired by God for a particular purpose. This verse is very clear as to what this purpose is. That purpose is to declare a particular message.

Like it or not, your main purpose is to declare the praises, valor, greatness, of the One who rescued us. Your purpose is not to amass as much money or toys that you can. It’s not to climb to the top of your chosen profession.

Our goal is to bring glory to the One who took us out of darkness and obscurity. We have now entered into His light. This place of light is wondered at, marveled at by all who perceive it.

This is who we are right now. I find that absolutely incredible! But there is a problem, however.

The challenge is that we’re at war. But it’s not against the world or the devil. According to this verse, the longings of our flesh serves in a strategic military campaign against our soul – which is our mind.

Believe it or not, our flesh is very crafty. It does everything in its power to get us to think that we’re not select, kingly, holy or needed for a particular purpose.

Peter is inviting us, calling us to refrain from these desires. We need to fight against the thoughts that we’re the same as everyone else in the world. If we fulfill these longings, we reinforce the lie of the flesh.

We then look at ourselves incorrectly and say that we’re no different than anyone else. We need to remain strong in His Word about who we are. That’s what will keep us headed in the right, upward direction.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 

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Who Are We? Part 1

Who Are We? Part 1

We’re looking at Peter’s first letter to the church. He’s been talking about us as the living temple of the Holy Spirit. Now he continues to describe us as the people of God.

In this section of Scripture, he’s talking about who we are in Christ. He compares who we are now to who we were before.

In the past we were not one people group. We all come from different backgrounds. We are from multiple ethnicities, social, economic, and educational backgrounds.

However, right now, we are one new group – we are God’s people.

In the past, we could not expect any rewards from God. But now, in Christ, we have obtained rewards from God. The fact is that because of the Lord’s work on the cross, you and I now qualify.

That’s what I want to talk about in the next couple of posts. Who we are now and what this means to us. Let’s look at how Peter describes us.

The first thing he says is that we’re a chosen people. A better translation would be that we are a chosen generation. It’s talking about a generation in the sense of a newly generated – newly created – group of people.

Think of it like how in our society we have different generations. There are the Baby Boomers, Baby Busters, Gen X, etc. Each of these groups share like experiences and form many of the same opinions. Sometimes their ways are foreign to the other generations. We call that a Generation Gap.

According to Scripture, we are a chosen, selected, newly formed group. I’m no longer a Boomer, I’m now a member of the select, the chosen people of God. So, theoretically, there should be no “gap” in Christian homes.

That’s because we’re all a part of the same new group. We’ve been born again under the same conditions.

The next thing that we’re called is a royal priesthood. The word royal means kingly. In Christ, we have the authority of kings in this world – under Jesus the King of kings.

We’re also a part of the priesthood of believers. That means we represent Christ to the world, but we also stand before God on behalf of others.

We are a kingly priesthood. What does it mean to be kingly? A king walks differently, acts differently, talks differently.

That’s because they know that everything they do comes under scrutiny. Do you understand that we’re being watched closely?

I’m not just talking about the Lord watching over us. The world is watching all that we do. I know that there’s some believers who say, “They shouldn’t be watching me. I’m human, just like them.”

Get over it. They inherently know that as believers we have a higher calling. They are going to watch us more closely. They want to see if what we have is the real thing.

There have been times when the most unlikely people have come to me asking for prayer either for themselves or a loved one. That’s where our priesthood comes into play. They’re looking for truth. Will they find it in us?

That’s why we need to be in the Word and in prayer. We must be ready for the Spirit’s leading.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
 

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God’s Temple

God’s Temple

We’re continuing through the epistle of 1 Peter. In my last post, I talked about how together, we’re being built up into a building for God to inhabit.

But just building the house is not enough. This house must have a purpose – it’s a temple to the living God. We’re to offer sacrifices in the temple of God.

We’re actually called to minister in God’s house. We’re a priesthood set apart to God. Our job is to offer spiritual sacrifices. What exactly are these sacrifices? Paul explained this to us.

It’s clear from this verse that we’re to offer up our lives – that is the sacrifice the Lord is looking for. This sacrifice is anything that reminds us that we’re not our own. We belong to the Lord Jesus Christ.

This can even include the offerings we bring to the Lord for His work.

When we praise the Lord in spite of our circumstances, that’s an acceptable sacrifice as well.

This verse also shows us the importance of blessing others. God sees that as a sacrifice before Him. That’s because all of these things are an expression of our faith in Him.

But there’s another side to this.

We show that we value the Lord as we walk in faith before Him. But what if I don’t want to? This is talking about willful disobedience.

If reject faith in Christ, that doesn’t change who He is – He’s still the Chief Cornerstone. But, instead of being that which keeps you straight and aligned with His will, He becomes a stone of stumbling to you. That literally means that you keep stubbing your toes on Him.

It also says that He’s a rock that makes you fall into a trap. When you know what God says, and live differently, you stumble into a trap with your eyes open.

Given the two choices, I would personally prefer the Cornerstone. We must allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in us. In that way we become lined up with the will of God.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
 

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Building a Spiritual House

Building a Spiritual House

As we continue through Peter’s first letter, he’s been talking about growing up into maturity. Now he’s going to change the description to that of a building being built.

In talking about God’s spiritual building, we’re told that Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone. The cornerstone has to be perfectly square. The rest of the house is straight because of this stone.

Peter tells us that Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the church because He is select and valuable. The whole building, all of us, must look to Him for direction.

Paul talks about this building. He says that we are…

Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. He is the chief cornerstone. With Him the Old Testament Prophets and the New Testament Apostles form the two sides of the foundation.

The good news is that we also have a part in this structure. How does this work? The above verse from 1 Peter tells us that we come toward Him – THE Living Stone.

He was rejected by mankind but accepted, selected, by God. That makes Him precious, valuable to God the Father.

If we are truly trusting in Him, then we value the Lord as well. That’s why we come toward Him. Our desire is to line ourselves up with His will.

That’s the key to a successful Christian walk. We must value the spiritual house God is building. So I have to ask; is God’s work valuable to you? Is it worth something?

We usually stumble over the question of worth. There is an internal battle between our desire for personal pleasure vs. the worth of serving God. If I value Christ – I come toward Him, lining myself up with His will.

As we work together for the Lord, we’re becoming a spiritual house. We’re a part of the structure of His house.

One thing we have to remember is that God is constructing the house. Jesus said that…

However, He builds it through us. We have to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. The Word of grace, love, prophecy, and encouragement are all things that build the church. We have to line ourselves up according to God’s plan.

Along with that, we must help others to line themselves up with Christ. We need to show a care one toward another. In this way we proclaim the Gospel of Christ to the world around us.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
 

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Spiritual Milk

Spiritual Milk

We’ve been studying through the book of 1 Peter. We’re now in the second chapter. We last looked at verses 2-3.

I’ve been talking about what a spiritual baby is as well as the spiritual milk that they need to grow to maturity. We last looked at what the writer of Hebrews had to say about this level of growth.

He made it clear that spiritual infants are ignorant of the Word of righteousness. He continues with that thought.

While the Apostle Peter simply says that the baby needs spiritual milk, the writer of Hebrews describes it for us. This list of teachings is what spiritual milk is all about.

But that should get us thinking. How often are new believers put through a course of study on these topics? Maybe that’s why there’s such an epidemic of immature Christians in the body of Christ in our generation.

The first thing he says young believers need to understand is repentance. This is the act of totally turning around, away from dead works. They need to stop focusing on their old way of living.

Then, they must have faith toward God. It’s a whole change of worldview. You cannot say you trust God while chasing the world.

Then they must learn about the different baptisms available to them; both in water and in the spirit. They need to learn about the truth of the laying on of hands. That’s where the power of God is transferred, one to another.

All of these things must be taught so the new believer can learn responsibility in the family of God. In that way they can discover their purpose in the body of Christ. Mature Christians understand purpose and responsibility.

It’s like what you see if a toddler is playing with a broom. You may tell them, “That’s not a toy.” But they won’t understand.

The child sees a broom as something to play with – for their own pleasure. An adult sees it with purpose – the broom is something to make the house cleaner for their family.

That’s the different perceptions between immature and mature believers. Are the things of God for my pleasure or to build up the body of Christ.

Mature Christians understand the eternal effects of what they do. Spiritual babies only know what they want right now.

The fact is that there are rewards to maturity. Knowing this should spur us on to keep growing in the Lord. In the above verse, Peter says that you crave growth now that you’ve tasted that God is good.

We should want to grow up. With that comes responsibility, rewards, good times, and challenges. There are struggles and victories. So, as Peter, Paul, and Hebrews all agree to exhort us – GROW UP!

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 26, 2025 in Leadership, Ministry, Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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Spiritual Babies Need Spiritual Milk

Spiritual Babies Need Spiritual Milk

As we go through the epistle of 1 Peter, he’s now beginning a new line of thought. He was showing us how to seek a mature love that flows from godliness. He will continue that thought later on in this letter.

He now tells those he’s writing to, to crave pure spiritual milk. He makes it obvious that he’s talking to spiritual babies here.

But that brings up some questions. What is a spiritual baby? What is spiritual milk? We need to understand these terms to move forward.

First let me say that being a spiritual baby is not a bad thing. We all need to start our walk with Christ in that way. However, staying a baby is not a good thing.

Notice the key word in this verse – worldly. This Greek word for worldly literally means flesh driven. Therefore, spiritual babies are flesh driven Christians. This means that they are motivated by their desires.

They only serve Christ as far as they WANT to. When it comes to the things of God, you hear them say things like, “I don’t feel like it.” or “I would rather do something else right now.”

The writer of Hebrews had to deal with the same type of people.

He found that these spiritual babies could not handle the deeper teachings in Christ. He goes on to explain it in this way…

He gives a fuller description of the spiritual baby. We’re told that those who want milk are literally ignorant of the word of righteousness. What the writer of Hebrews is actually saying here is that baby Christians ignore righteousness.

He tells us that mature believers, on the other hand, have taken their perception, and through practice have exercised it. “It” being righteousness. This spiritual exercise is for a purpose.

By doing so, they can distinguish good from evil. This literally means that they can determine what is beautiful and valuable vs. what’s worthless and hurtful to themselves and others.

The fact is that a baby, no matter how many times they get burned, will try to touch a flame. A spiritual baby, no matter how much they lose out with God, will continue to seek out the world.

I’ll continue this thought in my next post.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 24, 2025 in Revival, Spiritual Walk

 

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Becoming New

Becoming New

We’re going through Peter’s first letter to the church. In my last post we saw that we were born again by the living and enduring Word of God.

It doesn’t matter how we were originally born, or our experiences growing up to this point. We are a new creation in Christ. We now have a new nature.

Peter continues this thought.

We all have to come to the grips with the fact that our humanity tends toward decay. We know that this is true as far as our bodies are concerned. We see the effects of aging all around us in society.

However, this tendency toward decay is true for our relationships as much as for our bodies. If you remember, Peter is telling us how true holiness breeds godly love, one toward another.

In the context of this letter, this truth about decay is being applied to our relationships. Left to ourselves we would end up hating each other. But if we let the Word of God work on us, then the effects will last throughout eternity.

That’s why godly, anointed preaching is so important. It allows us to get God’s Word into our spirit.

But it doesn’t end there. The next verse carries the same thought.

Peter is telling us that until we are truly godly, there are some things that we must put away. These are the things that bring decay into our relationships. If left unchecked, they could ruin the work God is doing in us.

The first thing he tells us to put away is all malice. That word means badness, evil, trouble. We know this one. We all like to cause trouble from time to time. But, not for ourselves – for others.

“Do you know what she said about you?”

Then we have to put away all deceit. That means baiting and trickery. It’s saying and doing things that you know will cause others to get mad. We see a lot of this happening in social media. As believers we need to stop acting this way.

Next is hypocrisy. It’s the act you put on trying to make yourself look good and others look not-so-good.

Of course, another is envy. That’s actually an inward shriveling of bitterness or spite. It only hurts you. Usually the other person is oblivious to your inner turmoil. Let it go.

Finally, Peter says to put away slander of every kind. This is defamation or talking against. This something else that people have turned into a hobby on social media. We must not be involved in it.

These are the things that must be dealt with in the maturing process. At first you have to make firm decision not to do these things. But as the Holy Spirit does His work, it becomes your nature – from the heart by the new birth.

The church in America desperately needs to walk in true godly love. We are the body of Christ and should accurately portray who He is and how He loves.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 
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Posted by on March 21, 2025 in Power of God, Relationships, Revival

 

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Holiness Develops Love

Holiness Develops Love

We’re continuing our walk through Peter’s first letter to the church. He’s been talking about holiness and the fear of the Lord. Now the apostle goes a little deeper.

Peter is desiring for us to develop love for one another. This is an important teaching for us to hear. That’s because this generation has a notable lack of love. We’ve become very self-centered.

Love is the choice to put others first. It includes the choice to truly fellowship. I’m not talking about simply meeting together for church.

We’re talking about the true love that Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 13. It’s the choice to participate positively in the lives of others.

The key to producing this true love is right here in these verses. If you look closely, before he ever deals with love Peter says, “Now that you have purified your soul in obeying the truth through the spirit…”

That’s the foundation of the love we share as believers. It’s the goal of purifying ourselves. It means we desire to be made holy, set apart to the Lord for His use.

Here is the key. The foundation of true love is holiness.

Remember what Jesus said when He was asked what was the greatest commandment.

The first step is loving God which leads to holiness. So, if you truly loved yourself you would walk in God’s way. That leads to the ability to love others

Peter had to enlarge this in his second letter.

Notice that verse 5 & 6 get you to godliness (holiness). Then it takes godliness in order to step over into brotherly love. This is the first love in 1 Peter 1:22. He calls it a sincere love for your brothers. That’s literally an unpretended brotherly love.

Please understand that brotherly love is the emotion of liking someone as a friend. Until you develop godliness, you must pretend to like others. Believe it or not, we must pretend to love until godliness is developed.

The problem in the church is that we don’t even pretend to like one another. But isn’t that hypocrisy? No – it’s obedience! That’s because we’re headed toward agape-love, which is choosing to love even when you don’t feel like it.

That’s what Peter is saying here. Now that you’ve developed godliness, you don’t have to pretend anymore.

“I don’t like these people.”

Well, that means you still need to mature some more. That’s because mature holiness causes you to like others. I’ve made the choice to love; then God starts to change my heart. I start to become like Him.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 

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Set Free

Set Free

I’m currently in a series of posts about 1 Peter. He has shown us not only that God wants us to walk in holiness, but how to accomplish this. Now he goes on to show why this is way we’re to live.

The incredible truth is that we have been redeemed. That’s a big word. We need to understand all that his encompasses.

Normally, when you see the word redeemed in Scripture it means to buy back or purchase something. That’s not the case here. The word that Peter uses means to loosen or set free.

What has the Lord loosened us from? It was from the empty behavior that we inherited. It’s all the emotional and lifestyle baggage we grew up with. It’s the ongoing behavior we acted out with nothing to show for it in the end.

But, according to the apostle, the valuable blood of Jesus Christ rescued us from all of that. We no longer have to live a life that amounts to nothing in the end.

We need to see that nothing takes God by surprise. God knew what was to happen even before the world was created. He didn’t have to call an emergency meeting with the Holy Spirit.

“Oh No! What are we going to do? They just killed the Messiah.”

Absolutely not! God had the plan for our redemption already in place before the world was formed.

This verse goes on to say that now, in these last days, this plan is made manifestis revealed – in us. It’s our job to reveal Christ to the world. We are God’s voice, declaring His restoring power to all those around us.

Now, because of what God did in Christ, our faith and our expectation can firmly be focused on God. This is the foundation for the walk of holiness.

So that brings up some important questions we need to be asking. Is my faith focused on God’s Word and plan for my life? Do I truly expect what God says the results should be as He responds to my faith?

As we spend time in the Scripture and in relationship with the Holy Spirit, our faith and expectation toward the Lord should be growing. That’s the maturing process. It’s how I continue to grow in the body of Christ.

Only then can I lead others to experience the same walk of holiness and righteousness. I can’t simply teach it. I must exemplify it by walking it out in front of younger believers.

This is where the Lord is desiring to bring us all up to.

© 2025 Nick Zaccardi

 

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