First Peter 5:1-14 (2)

Introduction

Introduction

Main Idea: As believers lead and submit in their various roles within the Church, they should remain humble toward God in their suffering and watchful of the enemy until the day Christ calls them home in glory. Head Change: To understand the serious nature of pride and its ability to divide us from fellowship with other Christians as well as God.

Head Change: To understand the serious nature of pride and its ability to divide us from fellowship with other

Christians as well as God.

Heart Change: To crave genuine humility that leads us to surrender our concerns to the loving care of God.

Life Change: To confess whatever false hopes we cling to and instead cling to Christ as our ultimate hope.

Closing out Peter: In this final chapter Peter turns his focus primarily to responsibilities within the church congregation.

We could start by asking the FIRST big question: What are the primary purposes of the Church?

(; ; )

1. Evangelism: Reach out to others as we are going through life.

2. Make disciples: The word μαθητεύω in and similar contexts, NEVER implies duress or force. Nor does it imply to COMPEL one to believe; to compel means to force. Rather it means to convince them to be disciples. It implies reasonable dialogue.

3. Baptizing: those who profess Christ as Lord and Savior. This is the initial evidence of surrendering to Christ. Baptism is the symbol of purification and initiation on the basis of repentance.

The Message

16 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. 17 The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally. 18 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Those three we often remember, what are the other two?

4. Restore broken Believers: Be gentle when restoring, remembering those who restore are subject to falling. Share one another’s burdens.

NLT

1 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. 4 Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. 5 For we are each responsible for our own conduct. ESV 8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

5. To display God’s wisdom: Live prayerful and pure lives to teach God’s grace to people and angels. ()

SECOND big question: What are the primary responsibilities of leaders and congregations?

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1. Leaders: Peter says care for the people. Care means: to guide and help, to provide leadership, to protect a pasture from poisonous weeds. Paul says to leaders, equip the people. Equip means: to make someone completely adequate or sufficient for something.

Both are seeking the same results using different words. They are saying LEADERS have an obligation to set the example and lead from the front. They must care for the sheep and ensure they are equipped to do the work of the ministry.

Peter states 3 important guidelines for leading:

a) Must do it willingly under God’s leadership

b) Must NOT do it for selfish gain—meaning it is NOT to turn religion into a trade—it is a calling from God! The word implies they shear the sheep to pamper their own body and steal the milk for personal consumption!

c) Not to be bossy or domineering as a dictator or ruler!

If done well the Shepherd receives a crown of glory; implies if not, the Shepherd is a hireling and gets nothing!

(ESV) Says about hirelings

19 You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to my people, who listen to lies.

(The Message) Advises leaders

1 I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. 2 Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. 3 Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

God’s people: Peter is saying be good follower, and Paul is saying do the work of the ministry!

(The Message) Speaks about equipping

11 He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher 12 to train Christ’s followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ’s body, the church, 13 until we’re all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God’s Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

(ESV) Speaks about leading and following in humility

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. 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.

Vs 5-6 Define humility (we have done this before): Strength under control. To deal gently with those who are ignorant. To make your heart bow. To make yourself small. One who recognizes their need for God. To surrender to God’s portion assigned to you. (translations of humility, meek, humble)

Vs7 casting all you anxiety on Him: gives us a beautiful picture of our Father in heaven. Peter writes that we are to cast our anxieties on the Lord because he cares for us. The word he uses is epirripto, which literally means, “to transfer one’s concerns.” In this verse, it appears in participial form, which means it is not a command (“cast”) but an explanatory action (“casting”). This form connects it to the previous verse as well showing us one of the ways we can combat pride and pursue humility. In other words, Peter is saying we are to humble ourselves by casting our anxieties on God because he cares for us. Note: Having feelings of fear or anxiety is not wrong, but to hold them to ourselves is a form of pride suggesting we believe they are up to us to solve. God cares for our concerns and asks us to give them to him. Doing so is an act of faith that cultivates humility within.

Vs 8-11 Be watchful

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.

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament

Who better than Peter would know about the prowlings of Satan! Several times Jesus warned Peter that Satan was after him, but he failed to heed the warning. Too many Christians have “gone to sleep,” opening the way for Satan to work (, ).

Satan is an “adversary,” which means “one who accuses at court.” The word “devil” means “a slanderer.” Satan accuses us before God (; ; ), and he uses people to accuse us falsely (; ; , ). Satan comes as a serpent to deceive (), as a lion to devour, and as a liar and a murderer ().

How do we defeat Satan?

a. Be alert/sober-minded. Be rational and not like a drunk. Be in control of thought processes.

b. Be watchful. This word calls to mind an army, standing together to oppose an enemy. Satan prowls like a lion looking for someone to devour.

c. Resist/be firm in the faith. TO be firm in your beliefs and ensure your belief’s are grounded in sound doctrine.

d. Remember suffering is normal. Remember that other Christians are going through the same trials and you are not alone. Be careful when you’re tired, hungry, and lonely.

Closing 12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. 13 She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. 14 Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Peter’s theme has been grace (5:12), so he closes by reminding the saints that their God is the God of all grace! The Christian goes “from grace to grace” (). The Christian life begins with saving grace (). It continues with serving grace () then sanctifying grace (; ). God also gives sacrificing grace (), singing grace (), speaking grace (), strengthening grace (), and suffering grace (). “He gives more grace” (, NKJV). Peter closes by saying “Stand firm in it [grace]!” ()

Remember. Grace is supplied only to those who sense their need for Christ our Lord.

Prayer:

“May the God of all grace supply all you need to endure and live a pleasing life that one day when you enter into His glory, you will hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”