Heart of Jesus: Capable Chief (1st Peter 5:1-11)

Introduction & My Story with Anxiety/Panic Attacks

Student Pastor at Eastwood Baptist (Not pizza and ping pong, but Table Tennis and Tacos)

Married to Ashley for 6 years, Hudson (4), Amelia (3)

My connection to Living Hope & Hunter

Permission to share my story and be real

Panic Attack and managing anxiety thereafter

There are two people in this room: people who have wrestled with anxious feelings or people who need to learn about what anxiety is actually like.

Transition: Summary Sentence

Here’s what I’ve learned and am learning about Jesus in the last several weeks: Jesus is totally able to take my burdens and is endlessly patient with me, and He desires to communicate with me.

This weekend, I want to take that sentence and break it into two parts with two passages of Scripture and learn with You and believe with assured hope in those truths in this way:

One sentence summary in two sermons: Jesus is totally able to take your burdens (Capable Chief) and is endlessly patient with you and desires to communicate with you (Long-Suffering Listener).

Context of 1st Peter: Suffering

1 Peter 1:3–7 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The book of 1st Peter was written to believers who were facing suffering for following Jesus. They were treated poorly, marginalized from society, treated as outsiders and weirdos.

As we jump to the end of 1st Peter and get to our passage for tonight, we must understand where this passage comes from. We must understand the context in order to get the content.

1 Peter 5:1–5 ESV

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Ministers are not to shepherd from a sense of duty but from delight.

Pastors and church leaders should be loving care-takers who lead by example and preach the Word. (shepherds, “little chiefs”)

The Chief Shepherd leads and will give an eternal reward to those who lead and to those who follow.

1 Peter 5:6–11 ESV

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The transition from the first section into the second is humility. Clothe yourselves with humility…God gives grace to humble…so humble yourselves.

The biggest stumbling block in casting your cares/anxieties on God is a lack of humility, and the overwhelming pride in ones life.

Pride is the main ingredient for anxiety. Pride is synonymous with the boastful “self-” symptoms: self-esteem, self-image, self-regard, self-worth…you view yourself very highly, you are capable, invincible, savvy, brilliant, and better than anyone else or anything else. Pride is so deceiving, you may be prideful and not even know it. Pride creeps in the corners of our hearts and minds and tells us that we know what is best for ourselves.

God, the Chief Shepherd, will exalt you and I.

You can cast your cares on the Capable Chief because he cares for you.

God refines believers through suffering. The Father lovingly walks with His children as they grow in faith and trust in God through suffering.

Your suffering is never meaningless.