1 Peter 5/sunday pm 8-18-19

Last week… do not repay evil with evil

but with blessing

do not repay

(NIV)

Suffering for Being a Christian

12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And,

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,

what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”

19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Going along with a theme i believe the Holy Spirit has been speaking to us… stand firm in the face of problems, trials, life… you serve a bigger Jesus. You serve the one who’s worth it all.

Tonight’s focus… here in

(NIV)

To the Elders and the Flock

5 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud

but shows favor to the humble.”

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

Several things i want us to notice here…

be shepherds… elder in the church… that means to CARE for the flock… WATCH over them… because you are willing. How??? Pray for others.

NOT pursuing dishonest gain

NOT Lording it over them

but by being examples.

SHEPHERDS- responsibility of leading and caring for those in the church. Discipling. feeding them with God’s word. Protecting them from the enemy.

in doing this… NOT NOT NOT to gain anything for yourself. not money, nothing

NOT EVEN POWER… Pastor’s abuse this. Power Trip. LORDING IT over the people. Elders in church’s. Deacons… leaders… Lord it over… they’re only there for the power.

Recently was talking to someone… deacon “I think i’m going to remove myself, it’s not what i thought it was, thought i would have more power than i do” WOWOWOWOWOWOWOW

Lord it over people…dictator… no one wants to be fed by you. no one even cares about what you have to say.

love people. whats the key to leadership? Treating people nice. just be a nice person and usually things will workout.

But then Peter really get’s into the heart of it.

verse 4

(NIV)

4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

yes!!

verse 5

(NIV)

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud

but shows favor to the humble.”

wow!!

(NIV)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

WOW!!

whether you’re an elder, pastor, deacon, worship leader, sunday school teacher, nursery worker, security team, or a what i call “wild card” the #1 thing that will cause division… lack of growth… lack of progress...

PRIDE!!

NASTY!!

clothe yourself with humility!

humble yourselves!

(NIV)

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud

but shows favor to the humble.”

Opposes the proud!! You have set yourself against the work of God. Let me show you a couple of examples....

(NIV)

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. 2 As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there.

3 They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower the people were building. 6 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.”

8 So the Lord scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. 9 That is why it was called Babel —because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.

fear of being scattered.

church ministry- in it for me… in this thing for my glory… in this thing to make a name for myself… confused/scattered.

sure we may make progress… end up confused and scattered.

God wasn’t going to let this continue… wasn’t going to let this stand!

Opposes the proud/pride works against the Kingdom.

Church- end up all speaking different languages.... me…me… me… scattered and confused.

Pride was a prehumanity problem… passage of scripture in that is speaking about the King of Babylon.... but we, most theologians, and myself believe reference Satan being thrown out of Heaven. It describes how Satan rebelled against the Lord...

(NIV)

12 How you have fallen from heaven,

morning star, son of the dawn!

You have been cast down to the earth,

you who once laid low the nations!

13 You said in your heart,

“I will ascend to the heavens;

I will raise my throne

above the stars of God;

I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,

on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.

14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High.”

notice… i will.. i will… i will… i will...

ever wondered why God opposes the proud? Maybe it’s because it’s how this who thing started. Satan… pride.. nasty.

I want to go to my favorite example of pride in the Bible.... not often preached on using Pride. Look with me…

(NIV)

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

31 “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Mine/give me mine....

Notice what he did… instead of humbling himself in service… he took what the father gave to him and worked for his own glory.

ended up broke, lost, rock bottom.

because when we work with God’s blessings for our own glory we end up broken and dirty.

Look what ends up happening… verse 17-20..

humbled himself… servant… i am not worthy…

earlier he was taking gifts from the father and working for his own glory… fun for a while… worked for a while… then rock bottom...

humbled… i am not even worthy. my goodnes… that’s me… i’m not worthy of the gifts and the blessings that the father has bestowed upon me. I must work for his glory and not mine.

check back to 1 peter 5… verse 8-9

(NIV)

7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

humble ourselves…cast our worries on him.

devil… prowls around looking for someone he can devour...

pride… pulls you away from the pack.. don’t need the pack… everyone living for the Lord… i’m living for me…

isolated by pride…

animal planet.... lion… looks for the one who has seperated from the pack.. attacks.

resist… humbling ourselves… standing together....standing firm.