Sunday Evening Gathering: 1 Peter 5:1-11

Good evening everyone! Just a lay of the land for tonight! First, we will jump into a short devotional, then we will pray through some of the points from the devotional for the elders and members of Trinity church, then we will take some time to pray for missions at Trinity.

Let’s start with the word of prayer.

Introduction: If you would, turn with me to 1 Peter 5. As your turning there, let me tell you a short story.

A few weeks ago, I recieved a text from a guy by the name of Isaac who is a pastor in a church in India and has been for the last 20 years. Over these years, God has allowed him to not just start his church, but to create a theological training institute out of it. In so doing, God has allowed him to be able to raise up many young men who desire to be pastors and have sent them out to plant churches all over India. He has chosen a handful of these men to start other churches that also function as institutions for theological training. Currently, there are 12 different churches all over north India that have been planted to also sustain a theological institute for aspiring pastors, and women. Grace, James, and I had the wonderful privilege to teach at three of these institutes over the summer, and it was such a joy.

Back to the text I received from Isaac. He said “An urgent appeal for prayers. Our Bhopal Ashram (Bhopal is the location, and Ashram is what they call the churches/theological centers) was visited by a group of 13 compromising, government officials, police and authorities. They questioned each one of the students. Collected their identities, and they locked up the building. Confiscated some files and Bibles. It remains to be seen what will happen tomorrow. Meanwhile we are in consultation with pastors in the city with lawyers. Parents of all 30 students have to appear before the police soon and file statements that we neither converted them or their children. Any small thing can go wrong and we can be in trouble. Pray that God will protect the center. The testimony of the Lord would be preserved. The leadership and the students have gone through quite a trauma today that they would recover from it. God will bring this to a peaceful conclusion.”

While God has worked wonders through the Christian churches in northern India, it has not been without persecution and suffering.

Transition: Today, in our text, we see a word of advice from Peter to a church that is in a season such as this church in India. The crazy thing about Peter’s word of advice is that it is not profound. I am not saying that it is not important, or unhelpful, but rather that it is simply fundamental. Peter is reminding the reader that no matter the season in which the church finds itself, whether in a season of persecution and suffering or not, the tasks remain the same..

(1) Elders, shepherd the flock of God, (2) members, subject yourselves to your elders, and (3) everyone humble yourselves under God and cling to the hope of the gospel.

Transition: Look down with me to the first four verses of this chapter.

1 Peter 5:1–4 (ESV)

1 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: 2 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; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

So, this brings us to the first command Peter gives. He says....

1. Elders, shepherd God’s flock among you

Peter does not leave us to guess how our elders are to shepherd, but rather follows the imperative with three positive ways to carry this out.

So how are the elders of the church supposed to shepherd, first they are to shepherd willingly, secondly, they are to shepherd eagerly, and finally, they are to shepherd by example, yet they are to do all of this knowing that this flock is not their own, but rather that it is God’s flock. Before we jump in, I just want to say I am thankful for each of you elders here at Trinity. I am encouraged by your deep love for God, his people, and for the lost. Hear these words from from the hand of Peter and the mouth of God and continue in your faithfulness. For in a season of persecution or not the task remains the same.

So, elders, shepherd the flock of God, knowing first and foremost that it is God’s flock and not yours. God has given you the special privilege of shepherding his flock. We see a similar admonition in Acts 20:28

“28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

It was by the blood of Christ and the power of the Spirit that this church was formed and by the same Spirit that you were made the overseers. Elders, first remember this.

Secondly, as it is God’s will for you, shepherd the flock of God not because you have to, but because you get to. You are participating in a noble task, albeit a weighty one. You will be judged with greater strictness, and will have to give an account for those whom you are called to oversee. Approach this glorious and weighty task, with joy, knowing that the One who called you to it is able to work in and through you for the good of his people and for his glory.

Thirdly, shepherd the flock of God eagerly, not for dishonest gain. Do not shepherd the flock out of a love for money or self, but out of a love for God and for the flock. As you do so, you will be eager to meet the needs of others rather than seek gain for themselves.

Lastly, elders shepherd the flock of God by being examples to us. Matthew 20:25 says

“25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.”

This not the way of the elder. Yet, as under shepherds of Jesus you are called to imitate the example of Jesus. Jesus says in Matthew 20:28

“28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.””

So it is with you elder. As Thomas Schreiner helpfully notes, “Elders are not to enter the ministry so they can boss others around but so they can exemplify the character of Christ to those under their charge.” Elders shepherd the flock by example.

This leads us to verse 4. We see the first and only mention of Jesus as the Chief Shepherd in all of the NT. Schreiner explains that “the designation of Jesus as the Chief Shepherd reminds the leaders that they are fundamentally servants, not autocrats”.

Elders shepherd the flock of God knowing you are serving under, for, and through the Chief Shepherd and soon you will behold your chief Shepherd face to face for all of eternity. What a joyous thought.

Transition: If you would look back down with me to the first part of verse 5. Peter says this

1 Peter 5:5 (ESV)

5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.

2. Members of Trinity, subject yourselves to the elders

Now, the people in which he is writing to are getting ready to go through or are already going through severe persecution and suffering. As we can imagine, there were many voices within these congregations, probably many younger voices giving all sorts of ideas to the elders in the midst of their persecution. We do not know what they are, but we do know that Peter called the younger, to subject themselves to their elders. They are not to do what is right in their own eyes, they are not to stir up division, but to adhere to the leadership of their elders as they shepherd them through this very challenging season.

This too can be said to us, as our elders seek to faithfully shepherd us through the hills and the valleys, we too ought to subject ourselves to their leadership. Even when it is hard.

Application: Fellow members, when the elders of Trinity do not lead this church like our last church was lead, what is our response? When our elders choose to preach more expositionally and less topically, or when they choose to do communion every week instead of every month, or even in their limited capacities are not able to establish certain ministries of the church that we think should be established. How do we react?

I think each of us can be tempted to think less of our pastors, or even be tempted to stir up division in the body when an aspect of Trinity church is not carried out in the way we think it should.

Just as Paul is calling these members to be subject to their God-fearing elders to prevent division and disunity in the church, we to ought to subject ourselves to our elders leadership for the sake of unity in all things.

Transition: Let’s keep rolling, let’s read the next few verses. Let’s read the end of verse five to the end of verse 7.

Peter says this 1 Peter 5:5-7

1 Peter 5:5–7 (ESV)

5 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.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Peter closes verse 5 and starts verse 6 out with a charge for everyone of us, whether young or old, rich or poor, married or single, elder or non-elder, we are to…

3. Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God

For God does oppose the proud, but he does give grace to the humble. This is WHY we get the command from Peter to not be proud, but to humble ourselves. God will indeed give grace to us.

Humility looks like recognizing your inadequacies, then recognizing God’s adequacy and depending upon him. So Christian, recognize your inadequacy and depend upon your God for everything. When Peter says the “under the mighty hand of God”, he is pointing back to God delivering Israel out of Egypt. For this expression was used 8 times throughout the book of Deuteronomy in reference to this event. As Schreiner puts it,

“the image of a mighty hand emphasizes the power of God. Believers humble themselves before a mighty God, the all-powerful one.”

Now when Peter says that “at the proper time he may exalt you”, he was not promising vindication in this life, rather the time in view is the day of judgment and salvation. While exaltation may not happen in this life, we have a wonderful hope and promise of exaltation in the next. This is why we can say a heartily “Amen” with Paul when he says this in 2 Corinthians 4:17–18..

“17 For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18 as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”

Paul has been through the ringer, and he calls his sufferings light and momentary, but how, because he is clinging to the promise of glorious exaltation.

So friends, how do we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God? Well, we do what Peter says in verse 7, we cast all of our anxieties on Him for he cares for us. For when we cast our anxieties on the Lord we are proving that we do indeed believe who God says he is, and that we are unable to provide and care for ourselves.

On the flip side, if we do not cast our anxieties on the Lord, we are proud. Worry is an example of pride. Once again, Schreiner says

“Worry is a form of pride because when believers are filled with anxiety, they are convinced that they must solve all the problems in their lives in their own strength. The only god they trust in is themselves. When believers throw their worries upon God, they express their trust in his mighty hand, acknowledging that he is Lord and Sovereign over all of life. “Affliction either drives one into the arms of God or severs one from God”

Believer, what do you do when your car breaks down? Or when you’re not sure if you are going to pass your class? Or when your life is not where you want it to be? When you are in a season of waiting? Or in a season of severe suffering, whether that be in regards to your health or in regards to loved one’s health, or suffering in a multitude of other ways? What do you do when you share the gospel with that beloved family member, friend, coworker, and they reject you? Do we seek to pull up our boot straps and think that we can change our situation in one way or another? Do we turn and shake our fist at God? Do we turn to anger or greed or lust or gluttony for escape? Do we look to ourselves, our friends, our family, or our sin for comfort us or do we turn to God?

Can I just encourage each of us, to cast our worries on God for he cares for us. It does not say cast your worries on God and we will see what happens. It does not say cast your worries on God, and we will hope for the best. It does not say cast your worries on God, even though he is incapable to bear them. No.

It says, “cast your anxieties on God, for he cares for you”. God is not indifferent, he is not cruel, “he has compassion on his children and will sustain them in every distress.”

Cast your anxieties on Him.

Transition: This leads us to our last section of text, look down with me to vv. 8-11.

1 Peter 5:8–11 (ESV)

8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 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. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This brings us to our last point..

4. Cling to the hope of the gospel

Peter closes this section of the book with a reminder to be sober-minded (that is restrained in conduct, or level headed) and watchful for the devil, our adversary, is seeking to devour us. As a roaring lion strikes fear in anyone, so is the devil trying to strike fear in us, and turn us away from the faith. Peter is calling us to not be lured to sleep by the cares, comforts, desires, and hopes of the world, but to be on alert, fighting sin and running temptation, so that we may not forget and/or abandon the hope of the gospel.

He is speaking specifically in regards to persecuted and suffering and calls them to resist the devil, and stand firm in the faith. Not allowing their circumstances to change what they believe about God. Rather, they are called to remember that they are not alone in their suffering, and that after a little while, even if their suffering ends in death, that their God of all grace will restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish them to their eternal glory in Christ.

The same is true for us. While we may not currently be persecuted, many of us are going through seasons of trials and suffering in one way or another. The call of Peter to you is to not allow your circumstances to change you have believed to be true about God. God by His Spirit, in the wonderful work of Christ, through his perfect life, death, resurrection, and ascension, has given you the hope of eternal life with him now and forever.

So, in your suffering, in your trial, in your day to day life, know that you are being sustained by a God of all grace, who will one day, and this is a promise, restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you in his eternal glory in Christ. What a marvelous truth.

Cling to the hope of the gospel.

Conclusion: Throughout this passage, we have seen that Peter is calling the church to remember the basics, no matter the season the church is in.

(1) Elders, shepherd the flock of God, (2) members, subject yourselves to your elders, and (3) everyone humble yourselves under God and cling to the hope of the gospel.

Let me pray for us briefly, and then we will pray some more together.

Prayer Prompts: (35 Minutes)

Pray through the main points of devotional

Pray for the elders to shepherd willingly with joy, with eagerness, and as examples in character

Pray that amongst the members unity and submission would be fostered, and not animosity and division

Pray for the church as a whole to grow in our ability to be humble under the mighty hand of God

Pray that all of us, in whatever season we are in, would put of sin, and cling to the fact that we have eternal life now and forever in Christ

Pray for missions at Trinity and the nations

Update on Emily and her work, and how we can be praying for her!

Hey Grace! Thanks so much for reaching out and for your continued prayers. This week I have been feeling a little run down and would just appreciate prayers for perseverance with just a month left. Also, there is a missionary here who is interested in continuing to meet the sewing girls after I leave, so the hope is that I can bring her with me one day this week to get to know them. As always, my prayer for them is that their eyes would be opened to the truth of Christ in the stories we share. Yesterday, I shared the story of Jesus calming the storm and left them with the questions the disciples asked, “Who is Jesus?”. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for the support I’ve received from Trinity and I’m greatly looking forward to seeing you all soon. `

Brief Recap of India’s dynamics and how we can pray for this nation.

Pray for the work that is currently happening.

That more would be sent

That the church that is already there would be preserved and would reproduce

Finally, that this church in Bhopal would heed Peter’s word of advice, and would survive through the persecution and suffering

Prayer for a deeper longing for the lost to be saved at our church

Prayer for missionaries to be raised up as they are exposed to the need of the nations

Prayer for missionaries to be well equipped before they go

Pray for Trinity to gain clarity on how to train and send missionaries well