70. Final Exhortations to the Church Pt 8_Spiritual Warfare 4

Final Exhortations to the Church Pt 8: Spiritual Warfare cont.

1Pe 5:1-11 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, (2) shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; (3) nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. (4) And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. (5) You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. (6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (7) casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you. (8) Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (9) But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. (10) And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (11) To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Introduction: In much of counseling the overriding theme is that they felt they were unique. No one is going through the same struggles they are and as a result the feel alone and isolated. The Lord made us relational beings. And no matter how much of an introvert you are, you still need to feel a part. Being alone in our struggles causes despair and discouragement. Elijah, after his victory over the priests of Baal was so discouraged that he wanted to die but the Lord reminded him that there were yet 7,000 who did not bend the knee to Baal.

But we have not been talking about victory, we have been looking at suffering, and not just suffering but persecution of the soul by Satan. The roaring lion who prowls about looking for someone to devour. Peter has issued the command to resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.

There are two general observations in the verse. 1) The importance of the local covenant community of believers called the church in standing firm in the faith. Standing firm means standing together, braced for battle, in defense of not only ourselves but for one another. In the faith refers to the Biblical standard of theology and doctrine worked out practically in day to day living. 2) The second general observation is the universal brotherhood of all believers and by implication the church universal. Peter could have used other vocabulary to communicate the suffering of other Christians but through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he does not. He uses ‘brotherhood’. A word that binds us beyond the theoretical. This is a filial union given birth to us in our salvation. We are in union as brothers and sisters in Christ as we are in union with Christ. We all share in the same spiritual blessing as we all are baptized into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we all drink from the same spiritual fountain, we all, through the Spirit of adoption call God our Father. And there is blessing in our union with one another.

A quick reminder of where we are.

I. Our Attitude v8 – we are to be of sober spirit and be on the alert meaning that there is to be no intoxicating influence in the believer’s life that would so dull their soul to spiritual realities that they would be unable to discern or resist at spiritual attack from our adversary.

II. Our Adversary v8 the accuser, whose sole purpose is to break the believer from his confession of Christ. Remember he does not care about how rich or poor you are. He does not care how healthy you are. He only cares about separating you from Christ.

In verse 9 we see the command to action Peter gives us.

III. Our Action v9

A. We resist him by standing together.

B. We resist him by standing firm in the faith.

C. We resist him knowing Spiritual Realities.

Knowing – in the Greek there are several words for the word ‘know’. This particular word know has the connotation of knowledge that is gained by seeing or hearing. It is absolute knowledge, unforgettable. The implication is clear. These churches to whom this letter was written were not isolated islands of faith but had at least enough knowledge about one another that they knew other congregations were undergoing suffering and persecution. 2Co 8:1-4  Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,  (2)  that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality.  (3)  For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord,  (4)  begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints,

How would Peter’s readers would have known beyond a shadow of a doubt? Suffering has been a central theme throughout the letter.

1Pe 1:6  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,

1Pe 2:20-21  For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.  (21)  For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

1Pe 3:14  But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED,

1Pe 4:12-13  Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;  (13)  but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.

is talking about the actual suffering itself (not suffering in general) - it refers to the very pain that we are experiencing right now - those very things that we can "see, touch & feel" - those things that are causing us anguish and emotional trauma.

In resisting him, this knowing is as foundational as being steadfast in the faith. But this great help in resisting our adversary the devil is based upon a particular knowledge. It is knowing the spiritual realities in which we live.

1. the reality of suffering for Christ

2. the reality of the purpose of suffering

3. the reality of our shared suffering

Before we get into the meat of the matter there are some exegetical issues to clear up.

In some respects this verse is difficult to make readable. Each of the translations I have looked at insert words or try to fine a suitable replacement of a word that would make the text more understandable. But leaving the word order just as it is in the Greek shows us the richness God’s goodness, mercy and grace to us.

Literally the text reads: him you resist. Steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.

1 The reality of suffering for Christ – as we have seen from the previous verse we have read in 1 Peter is that the cause of their suffering was because of their faith in the lord Jesus Christ. Suffering is not a generic kind of suffering rather is talking about the actual suffering itself - it refers to the very pain that we are experiencing right now - those very things that we can "see, touch & feel" - those things that are causing us anguish and emotional trauma. This is our reality Paul said 2Ti 3:12  Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Act 14:22  strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, "Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God."

Peter says the ‘same sufferings’; our sufferings are not unique to us. We cannot claim that ours is different from others so that they just wouldn’t understand what it is we are going through, or that mine are so unique that I cannot press on in the faith. The Lord hems us in, and thankfully so because we are weak and fearful naturally speaking and would gladly take any exit ramp off the interstate of suffering.

Peter is not advocating misery loves company. There is shared strength and encouragement in our shared sufferings. Knowing that others have made it through similar circumstances helps in assuring us. Have you been ministered to by someone who has gone through a similar trial. Have you ministered to someone who is now in a similar trial that you faced.

If you have ever seen a documentary on pack predators when they hunt they attempt to separate the victim from the herd. Separated from the herd it loses its support, its defense. Lions do that very thing of separating their prey from the herd. And our adversary prowls about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

2. The Reality of the purpose of suffering. Are being accomplished…this phrase gets to the root of the matter. The Greek word translated as accomplished means to complete, not just to an end but to the destined goal. It is passive meaning that this work is being accomplished in the brethren rather than by the brethren. What is the goal of suffering? 1Pe 1:6-7  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,  (7)  that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

We know that the devil only desires our downfall, his desire is in our suffering we would fall away. But that is not what this text is saying. This text is saying just the opposite, far from denying faith these brethren are standing firm in faith or else Peter would be referring to them as apostates not brethren.

By implication this brings us around to the Who is ultimately in control of all these things. Our God is in control and has been stated before the devil is a murderer and his intent to do us harm, but ultimately he is but a tool in our Father’s gracious, loving hand..proving our faith in the fires of suffering.1 Peter 1:3 by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ

3. the reality of our shared suffering - In your brethren who are in the world (but not of it) I go back to the second general observation. The universal brotherhood of all believers and by implication the church universal. Peter could have used other vocabulary to communicate the suffering of other Christians but through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he does not. He uses ‘brotherhood’. A word that binds us beyond the theoretical. This is a filial union given birth to us in our salvation. We are in union as brothers and sisters in Christ as we are in union with Christ. We all share in the same spiritual blessing as we all are baptized into the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, we all drink from the same spiritual fountain, we all, through the Spirit of adoption call God our Father. And there is blessing in our union with one another.

Peter attaches the phrase ‘who are in the world’. Who are in the world as opposed to being of the world. Being in the world but not of it is the distinctive of our faith. It was because these Christians in the churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia and Asia Minor and those other brethren lived so differently to the rest of the world that they were persecuted.

1Pe 2:12  Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may on account of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1Pe 3:16  and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

1Pe 4:3-4  For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.  (4)  And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;

In summary resist him, firm in the faith, with absolute knowledge that all Christians suffer, all suffering for Christ is purposeful and that He who is working in us all will accomplish in us just what He intended. We see this fact worked out before us in the witness of our brethren who are in the world.

Do you have a Biblical understanding of suffering? It’s purpose?