A Word to the Shepherds

Intro

Imagine you are cleaning out the attic of your parents’ house, or a storage unit of your grandparents. You open a box in the corner that has two or three decades of dust on it. Inside you find old pictures, hunting licenses, deeds to property, and a few letters. The pages are yellowed; the ink is slightly faded. You open one of the letters and discover that it was written by your great-grandfather. In the first couple of sentences, you realize it was written to your mom or dad before they were born. A letter to a future generation.

How would you read a letter written from your great-grandfather and addressed to your parents? Would you read the first couple of sentences and say, “Man, those sentences are so good! I’m just going stop and think about those first couple of sentences. Gonna’ meditate on them. Might put them on a T-shirt!”? Would you put the letter away for safe keeping and pull it out in a month or two and read the first paragraph, and just stop there and say, “This is life changing stuff! I think I’m going to get a few of my friends and just study this paragraph?” Maybe you’ll get a map out and find the location that this letter was written from, or where it was sent to. Is that how you would read a letter from your great-grandfather? No. If you had time, you would sit down, right there in the attic, and read the whole letter.

When we find a letter in the Bible, why don’t we normally read the whole letter like we would read a letter from our great-grandfather? Why do we read one sentence and memorize it? Why do we read one paragraph at a time and not read any farther?

Well, we’ve been trained to read Scripture that way. And to be fair, there’s so much packed into every passage of Scripture that you should read through them slowly.

1 Peter is a letter. And we’ve stepped through the five chapters of 1 Peter one chapter at a time so that we could examine the truths that we might have missed, if we had read through them at a faster pace. (As Jeannette mentioned a couple of weeks ago, when Peter wrote this letter, he didn’t have chapter numbers – those were put in later to help us locate specific portions of scripture quickly.)

By the way, one of the things we frequently miss is that the author of a letter in Scripture is rarely the one who penned the letter. Letters were usually dictated to an amanuensis (a secretary or scribe) – someone who had good penmanship and grammar. Look at 1 Peter 5:12 – Silvanus (the name Peter and Paul used for Silas) penned this letter as Peter dictated it.

I want to encourage you to read the letters in Scripture like you would read a letter from your Great-Grandfather. Find a quiet place away from distractions. Handle the letter with care; a letter from your Great-Grandfather would probably be faded and brittle. You might struggle with the handwriting. You might need help deciphering it. “What word is that? What does it look like to you?” You might spend the whole afternoon reading and re-reading that letter. Imagining what your Great-Grandparents were experiencing when they wrote that letter. Was it before or after your grandparents were born?

If you read Scripture that way, I think you will be amazed at what you see.

Live Into Your Identity

If we read 1 Peter like a letter from a spiritual grandfather, I think you’ll see something jump out that you might not get by simply reading a section at a time. You’ll not only see the trees, but you’ll be aware of the forest around you. It’s important that we see the forest in 1 Peter so that we can understand the trees we encounter in chapter 5. What Peter is trying to do in this letter is to help us understand who God is, and who we are. What is our identity when we consider who God is? Peter wants us to live out, or live into, our identity.

Right out of the gate, Peter starts the letter by telling us, his readers, that we are “elect.” He says we are born again into a living hope and that there is an imperishable inheritance being safeguarded in heaven just for us. He says that we are living stones being built up as a spiritual house. We are a holy and royal priesthood, a chosen race, a holy nation. And his goal is that we ACT like that’s who we ARE. He wants us to live into our identity.

But he understands that it’s hard to believe that we are chosen. It’s hard to believe that we are a holy nation. It’s hard to believe that we are a kingdom of priests. And it’s especially hard to believe those things when we experience suffering. In times of suffering, we usually focus on the suffering. And when we focus on our suffering, we forget our identity. And Peter knows, if you focus on your suffering, you will NEVER live into your identity.

Your identity must take center stage. We must hold on to who God says we are, in order to make sense of the things we experience. We CAN’T let our experiences define who we are!

Fifteen times in 1 Peter, Peter talks about the temporary reality of suffering and the eternal reality of glory. Over and over, he says, “You are a chose race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation! And I know that it’s almost impossible to believe, because you are currently experiencing suffering. You say, ‘How could I be chosen? How could I be a royal anything? If I am chosen, why am I suffering? If I am part of a royal priesthood, why am I not experiencing life as a king or queen?’”

Over the past few years, we’ve talked about our Scriptural identity. Who does God say that we are?

In Genesis 1:26-28, God says that he is creating us to be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over it. That’s who God created us to be.

He told the people of God at Mount Sinai that we are a kingdom of priests who represent God to the world, and intercede on behalf of the world before God (Exodus 19:5-6). That is our identity.

We see in Acts 2 that the people of God become the tabernacle of God. God dwells in us. We carry the presence of God with us. That’s who we are.

But when we experience suffering, we lose track of our identity. Suffering makes it hard to believe that we are who God said we are.

The Suffering

The Forest of Suffering

Everyone knows that suffering makes it difficult to believe that God even exists. It’s the biggest reason that people question the reality of God. “If God is good, why is there suffering in the world?” That’s the reason most people reject the idea that there is an all-loving, all-powerful, God who is good.

Peter knows that suffering is a problem for Christians too. Many Christians either just accept the fact that God exists and is good, or they choose not to wrestle with the question. “God is good, and I don’t know why there is suffering.” We know and believe who God IS, but because of suffering we wrestle with our own identity in Christ. “How could I be chosen? How could I be a royal anything? If I am chosen, why am I suffering? If I am part of a royal priesthood, why am I not experiencing life as a king or queen of the Kingdom of God? If I am the temple of God, why does it hurt so bad and why does God feel so distant?”

Fifteen times in this letter Peter says, “Don’t let your suffering get in the way of living into your identity in Christ. There is temporary suffering, but there is also eternal Glory.” Fifteen times Peter says, “Yes, you are experiencing temporary suffering, but God promises a resurrected, glorified eternity.” Fifteen times Peter says hold onto your identity, even though you are experiencing suffering now. This is the forest of 1 Peter.

So, with that information, now that we know this is the forest we’ve been walking through, let’s look at the trees Peter identifies in chapter 5. Actually, let’s start with the last verse in chapter 4, verse 19.

Entrust Your Suffering to a Faithful Creator

1 Peter 4:19-5:1 (ESV)

Therefore let those who suffer (according to God’s will) entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

5 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:

Let’s pause there. Peter says, “Elders of the church of God, (BTW, don’t check out because you are not an Elder. This is going to apply to you too.) I too am an elder. I’ve entrusted my soul to the Creator of the world. I’ve personally witnessed Christ the Creator suffer death on the cross. The One whose name is above every other name, the One who has ALL authority in heaven and earth, the One who sits at the Father’s right hand, The ONLY One who could have rightfully avoided suffering … I saw HIM suffer on the cross. He was submissive to the will of God. But his suffering was temporary; his resurrection Glory is eternal!

Watch this, Jesus’ suffering didn’t change his identity. Jesus was the Glorified Son of God before the creation of the universe (John 1:14; 17:5). Peter says, but I witnessed his suffering at the will of God (Isaiah 53:10). And yet, He is still the eternal King of kings and Lord of lords! I witnessed his true and everlasting Glory on the mountain, along with James and John! Jesus is the same yesterday (from before ALL the yesterdays), and he’s the same today, and he will be the same for ALL the tomorrows in eternity! His identity NEVER changes. And in the same way, you are who God says you are, even in the midst of suffering!

The Shepherds

Shepherd the Flock Among You

Peter says, “Even though you are experiencing suffering, your identity is secure in Christ. And one facet of your identity is that you are Shepherds.” In verses 2-3, Peter says, “Elders,

v.2-3 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 by being an example to the flock.”

Embrace your identity. You are Elders. You are shepherds of the flock under your care. What do shepherds do? Shepherds lead the flock – they help them get to where they need to be going. Shepherds feed the flock – they make sure that the flock is receiving spiritual nourishment. Shepherds protect the flock – they look for dangers and pitfalls and guard against those threats from causing real harm to the flock. Shepherds provide for the flock – they make sure that the flock has everything they need to be healthy and to multiply. Live into your identity. Shepherd the flock by exercising oversight.

By the way, do you remember who wrote this letter? It’s Peter – the disciple that denied Christ three times. I can imagine Peter on that beach after the resurrection … the smell of freshly roasted fish, the sound of the waves lapping up onto the shore … I can imagine Peter hearing those words from the Resurrected Christ, after he had denied Jesus in the hours before the cross (John 21:15-17) … Peter feed my lambs. Care for my sheep. And now Peter is passing that command on to the elders or the church.

Elders, not only should you shepherd the flock, but you should do it willingly. You shouldn’t feel compelled to do this – As a disciple of Christ you should WANT to shepherd the flock.

And don’t shepherd the flock because of what you can get out of it. Shepherd the flock under your care because you are eager to do God’s will. Shepherd the flock because you know and value God’s purposes.

And don’t shepherd the flock in a domineering way. Shepherd the flock by being a good example of what a disciple looks like. Model discipleship.

The Chief Shepherd Will Return

v. 4 When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Here in verse 4, Peter reminds us that the chief Shepherd IS going to return. You are an under-shepherd. You are an apprentice shepherd. When the chief Shepherd returns, he will ask you to give an account of how you have shepherded the flock. You are shepherding on behalf of the chief Shepherd. And if you have shepherded like Jesus would shepherd, the chief Shepherd will give you a crown of Glory. Suffering is temporary; the crown of a glorified body is eternal.

Submit to and Care For Your Shepherds

But Peter isn’t just focused on the elders. Peter turns to those who are younger, who don’t see themselves as Elders or Shepherds.

v. 5 You who are younger, be subject to the elders

Maybe that’s you. You don’t view yourself as an elder. Be subject to those who are charged with the care of your souls.

This is something that many Christians don’t understand, or maybe haven’t thought about. Those in your midst who are Elders will give an account to God for how they have shepherded you. Your pastors and state leaders have been charged by God to take care of the flock. That is a serious responsibility. Caring for the flock has kept many pastors and Elders up at night. Caring for the flock has pushed many to the breaking point – mentally, emotionally, and physically. You who are being shepherded, pray for and take care of your pastors and elders. You need to be shepherds who care for those who are shepherding you.

Then, like he did in chapter three, he speaks to everyone.

v. 5-6 – All of you – clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Matthew 20:26-27; John 13:4-5, 14; James 4:6, 10). Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty had of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.

A community of shepherds requires humility! Three times in less than two verses, Peter uses the word humble. Clothe yourselves in humility. God gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves.

I learned the meaning of this passage soon after we moved to New Castle in 1998. Emily was just a few months old when we moved from Holland, MI and Kaitie had just turned four. One of the things that we learned about Emily was that she loved being lifted up. And after Emily was lifted up, she soon found someone else in the room that was taller and would reach out to them. She would go from person to person until she could get as high as possible.

Emily could reach and jump and only get so high. But … if she let someone else lift her up, she would get higher than she could ever jump. And it hit me.

I could try to lift myself up; I could do things on my own, and I would only get so high. BUT, if I am open to being shepherded, if I humbled myself and waited for God to life me up, I could get higher than I ever could on my own. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.

Cast All Your Cares Upon the Shepherd

Then in the middle of this conversation about shepherds, Peter writes the words that inspired one of the songs we sang today.

v. 7 Cast all your cares upon him, for he cares for you.

Cast all your cares upon him, but what is the reason Peter gives? Normally we read this verse as He CARES for you! But in the middle of a conversation about shepherding I think those words take on a different meaning. Peter says, “Shepherd the flock among you. Shepherd with humility. And cast your cares upon him, for HE cares for YOU! He is the chief Shepherd. HE cares for YOU. He doesn’t just have affectionate feelings for you. He cares for you, he takes care of you, he provides for you, he feeds you, he clothes you, he shelters you – he died for you! You can trust him with the things you care about. He’s the Good Shepherd!

The Roaring Lion

Be Sober-Minded and Alert

Then Peter comes to the real meat of this chapter. Remember your identity. You are shepherds of the flock among you. Fathers and mothers, you are shepherds of your children. Grandparents, you are shepherds of your grandchildren. Young men and women, you are shepherds too. That’s part of your identity (Genesis 1:26-28). So, he says,

v. 8 Be sober minded …

Why? Why is it important to be sober minded? Peter uses this phrase three times in this letter. Why is it important for you to remain sober? Is it just because God is concerned that you don’t abuse alcohol and drugs? Well, I’m sure he’s concerned about that, but that’s not what’s going on in this verse. It’s important for you to be sober because God is calling you to …

Be watchful …

Why? Why is it important to be watchful? What does it matter whether you are watchful or not? It’s important for you to be watchful because …

Your adversary the devil is on the prowl, like a lion in search of sheep, seeking someone to devour.

God cares whether you are sober, not because he doesn’t want you to drink alcohol. God cares whether you are sober, not because he doesn’t want you to do drugs. (Now, to be sure, God doesn’t want you to become drunk. God doesn’t want you to be enslaved to drugs. He wants you to take care of your bodies.) But the reason for sobriety that Peter gives is because you have a purpose, an identity.

He calls you to be sober, because he is calling you to be watchful, because you are a shepherd caring for the flock in your charge and there is an enemy who will gladly destroy your life and the lives of your sheep if you give him half a chance. Satan is not some cartoon boogieman with a pointed tail and a pitchfork. Scripture says, he comes “ONLY to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10-15).

Peter reminds these believers, “You are an under-shepherd of the Good Shepherd. Be sober-minded and watchful. You have an enemy.” Parents, be sober-minded and alert. There is an enemy who is looking to steal, kill, and destroy your children. Grandparents, be alert and sober-minded. There is an enemy who is looking to steal, kill, and destroy your grandchildren. Aunts, uncles, elders, teachers, factory workers, business owners, big brothers and big sisters, you have a flock that God has asked you to take care of and there is an enemy of your soul, and an enemy of the flock under your care.

1 Peter 5:9 - Resist him! (Resist the devil! Resist the enemy of your soul!) Stand firm in your faith! Knowing that we have a common enemy. The same kind of suffering is being experienced by believers around the world.

Sober up and be watchful. A shepherd who is sober and watchful can see things coming. They can sense danger before it gets there. If you are sober and watchful, the Holy Spirit can warn you ahead of time so that you can protect the flock under your care. Shepherds, you are going to give an account before God, but he has not left you alone; he has not left you without tools to defend the flock. Live into your identity with the tools he has provided by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Maintain Your Identity in the Forest

And then Peter comes back to the forest we’ve been walking in. Talking about the forest again, Peter says in 1 Peter 5:10 …

v. 10 – “… 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.”

I get it. You’re suffering. It’s hard to believe that you are a “chosen” anything! How could you be a royal priesthood? If you are chosen, why are you suffering? If you are part of a royal priesthood, why are you not experiencing life as a king or queen in the kingdom of God?

But those are the wrong questions to ask. If Christ, the Creator of the world … Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords … If Christ, the one with all authority in heaven and earth, temporarily suffered in order to accomplish the will of God in the world, how can you imagine that you will escape suffering? Especially if the mission of God continues?

Jesus told Nicodemus, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16).” Church, is that still true? Does God still love the world? If God asked Jesus to suffer to accomplish his will (Isaiah 53:10), what makes you think that God won’t ask you to endure suffering so that others can see Jesus in you, and turn, and be saved?

But even if you do suffer (1 Peter 3:14-18), we know that suffering is only temporary. “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5b).”

Remember Christ’s Identity

And then Peter reminds us of Christ’s identity. The identity that remained the same even when he was suffering.

v. 11 – “To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

All dominion belongs to Christ. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. Therefore, Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded. And remember this, He is with you always, to the end of the age! (Matthew 28:18-20)

The Great Commission is not about getting people to say a few magic words so that they can receive a ticket to heaven. The Great Commission is about making disciples. It’s about becoming a disciple who then makes disciples, who make disciples. When we become a disciple of the Good Shepherd, Scripture says that God will take our stony heart and give us a new heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:17-20). The heart that is planted in you is the heart of a shepherd. Nurture that “shepherd heart” growing within you. Shepherd the flock among you.

Conclusion

1 Peter is an old letter from one of your great-grandfathers in the faith. Treasure it. Read it. Hear Peter pleading with you to live into your identity. Hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you through the words that Silvanus penned on that first parchment. Yes, you are going to experience suffering, but that doesn’t alter your identity.

Our Creator, and the King of the Universe, suffered too, and it didn’t alter his identity. Jesus was submitted to the will of God for his life. Christ suffered on the cross, so that we could live victorious lives. And Christ was raised again in a glorified body, to the Glory that was his before creation.

And if it is God’s will that we experience suffering, in order that Christ can be lifted up through our lives, we know that it is only temporary. Christ has promised us a glorified, resurrected body; a crown of glory that we cannot even imagine. An eternal glory that will far outweigh our temporary sufferings (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). And if we submit to the will of God in our lives, we can be confident that God will use our suffering to advance the kingdom of God.

Elders … Young men … young women … Christian believer … Live into your identity. Shepherd the flock among you. Lead the flock. Feed the flock. Protect the flock. Provide for the flock.

Elders, will you commit to shepherding the flock among you?

Young men, young women, Christian believer, parents, grandparents, church of the Living God, will you commit to nurturing that “shepherd heart” that God has placed in you, so that you can shepherd the flock in your care?

Even in the midst of suffering, each of you is an under shepherd of the Great Shepherd, and he is counting on you to shepherd the flock among you.