November 18, 2018
Morning Service

We have just finished chapter 4 of I Peter and it brought us 3 messages just as chapter 3 did.  Peter instructed us to have the same attitude as Jesus when it comes to suffering.  We are to embrace it as a necessary part of our journey and as a time of growing our faith.  Suffering is difficult, but it always draws us closer to our Savior.  God uses those times to build our character and we should always look for what He is teaching us through our struggles.  Some of the most powerful testimonies come out of a time of suffering and deliverance.  In the middle of that teaching Peter said this:

1 Peter 4:7 But the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious, and watchful in your prayers.

·        Peter encouraged us to not lose focus on where this life is going to end.  Time is drawing short and we need to be ready for the return of Christ and not be caught unaware.  As we begin chapter 5 Peter now addresses the leadership of the church.

 

1 Peter 5:1 I exhort the elders who are among you, I being also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.

·        There are many churches that use this scripture to designate an “elder” as a leadership office within the church structure.  I can see their point, but we look at Paul’s teaching to Timothy that designates only the offices of “bishop” or pastor and “deacon” within each fellowship.  The bishop is the overseer or shepherd of the flock and the deacons are his counseling body as well as servants to the flock.  Here I believe Peter is using the term elder to refer to age and experience within the church.

·        I also believe that all of us, through our maturity in Christ, are given a responsibility within the church to lead.  Leadership is something we all can demonstrate as it refers to influence.  There are people in all of our lives that we are able to influence whether it is with our words of advice, wisdom and experience or by simply living as an example for others to follow.  If the older don’t teach the younger, then how will they know?  With age and experience comes responsibility to the next generation and those who have not yet traveled as far on their journey with Christ that we have.  God has uniquely placed each of us in a position to influence (lead) certain people and Peter in reality is not only speaking to the leaders of the church, but all of us as well as we lead those placed before us by God.

1 Peter 5:2-4  Feed the flock of God among you, taking the oversight, not by compulsion, but willingly; nor for dishonest gain, but eagerly;  (3)  nor as lording it over those entrusted to you by God, but becoming examples to the flock.  (4)  And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a never-fading crown of glory.

·        Peter gives us several characteristics that a good leader will display to those he is leading.  First we realize that those under are influence are God’s flock and not our own.  We can only leader those God has given us. 

·        Secondly a good leader leads out of eagerness to serve, not out of obligation or duty.  We need to willingly accept our role as an influence on others and embrace it. 

·        Thirdly a leader is concerned only with what he has to give, not what he will receive in return.  A parent does not care for a child for any other reason than that they love them unconditionally.

·         Finally a leader leads by example not by force.  A shepherd leads a flock from the front not from pushing them from behind.

1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders, and all be submissive to one another. Be clothed with humility. For God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.  (6)  Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,

·        This strengthens my point that Peter is addressing the older men and not addressing an office in the church as now he switches and addresses the younger people.

·        Peter here calls all of us to cloth ourselves with humility.  Pride works in our lives to stop us from sharing wisdom with others as well as listening to others advice.  God calls us to a life of humility and submission.  Respecting our elders and investing in the younger generation fulfills that calling.  Pride in our lives will not be blessed by God; Peter tells us that “God resists the proud.”   Resist any pride in your life that flares up within yourself and admit you can’t do this alone.  We are better together.

·        “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.”  By humbling ourselves to God and to our brothers we receive grace (unmerited favor) from God. Jesus said “Whoever desires to be great among you, let him be your servant.”  We best imitate Jesus when we humbly love each other.  Don’t look for recognition from man but it let our recognition come from solely from God.  Whether it be in this present world or the next he will honor you for your humble service.  Peter now finishes that statement with an extremely profound truth that should blow us away.

 

1 Peter 5:6-7  Therefore be humbled under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,  (7)  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

·        Our humility and submission to God bring us to a truth that we have heard about our whole life, but it takes a lifetime to truly understand it.  “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”  God loves me and cares about anything that I care about.  He even asks me to “cast all my care upon Him.”  Not only the big things or just the little ones but ALL things!  God loves me so much that He, the Creator and Keeper of the entire universe, tells little old me to “cast all my cares upon Him.”

·        I can pray to God about my worries at home, my concerns about work, my difficulties with relationship, my health issues, parenting struggles or even my lost dog Roscoe.  We have had quite a week of praying and trusting God for our pet Roscoe who was missing for 21/2 days before he was found.  God heard our many prayers and answered them.  If it concerns us, then God is concerned as well; not just concerned but truly cares about it.

·        Can you put your mind around that?  There are people in our lives that we can share our true feelings with but we always wonder if they really want to hear them or not.  God wants me to unload all my cares, worries and anxieties upon Him.  It is never a burden or a bother; He loves and wants us to share everything with Him.  So often we carry a burden ourselves that God is standing close by and saying. “Give it to me and I will carry that for you.”  Don’t submit to your circumstances, but submit to the Lord and trust Him to work things out for you.  If we give in and allow our circumstances to weigh us down, we give our enemy an avenue to work in our lives.  Peter now calls us out to stay on guard for such an attack.

 

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober and vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour;  (9)  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

·        A lion attacks sick, young or injured animals.  He chooses to attack when his victim is alone or not alert so he can easily overcome him.  When we are hurting, suffering, or persecuted and then separate ourselves from others (and the Lord) trying to work out our troubles alone (or just choose to wallow in them); we make ourselves very vulnerable to attack.  Our enemy loves it when we feel alone, weak, helpless, and cut off from other believers because it is then that he will strike us.  We become so focused on our circumstances that we forget to watch out for the real danger that is lurking around us.  Don’t allow yourself to go there.  Resist the temptation to just quit and give up.  Stay focused on the Lord and His goodness.  He will never let you down.

·        Peter instructs us to keep our focus being sober and vigilant and resisting the enemy’s attack by faith.   We often feel that we are experiencing something that no one else has ever faced.  Peter tells us to realize that our struggles are not unique to us, but many of our brothers’ face or have faced the same sufferings.  It is again so important that we remain humble and in time of trials ask for help.  God has placed people around us that love us and will be there for us in our time of need.  He loves and cares for us and knows are better together.

 

I believe we all need to come to the understanding of just what it means to experience the true love of God.  He cares about you and everything you care about.  He desires for you to confide in Him all that troubles your heart.  He places people in our lives to demonstrate His love to us.  He has built the church and commanded us to be part of it because we are better together. He loves and values you so much that He gave His life to give you the opportunity to have a close relationship with Him.

 

Heavenly Father give us just a glimpse of the love You have for us and let us humble ourselves before You submitting fully to Your control.