Untitled Sermon

Introduction

The first four verses in chapter 5 are addressing the elders and their responsibilities as an elder and the characteristics that they should show to those that they are shepherding or leading. But then it changes gears and Peter addresses “you who are younger”. And any time we talk about submitting ourselves to authority (as a younger person) we cringe because we are independent right? We can take care of ourselves. We don’t need anybody, we got it. We don’t need any help. We don’t need any direction or guidance from others, we don’t need to listen to old people, they are boring they don’t understand me. Who are they to tell me what to do? Why do they have to offer me that could help me anyways? We all have a problem with authority either now or at some time you have, or if you haven’t you probably will. Submission is a hard thing to do because we don’t want to give up control (pride) and give our control over to God(or our thought that we have control of our lives). So…why should we submit to the authorities of those who are elders in the church? And with that how does it relate to our ability to resist Satan?

Submission to Authority is a blessing.(v.5)

When you submit to those in authority, you get poured into by those mature in their faith. ( Ex. Apprenticeships in job places)

When you submit to those in authority, you exercise humility not only to those in authority, but to God who has appointed them over you.

All (elders and those younger and everyone in between) must clothe themselves with humility.

Those who are arrogant and proud trust and glory in themselves because they operate under their own leadership, their own ideas, their own strength, and their own talents (all actually given to them by God). However, the humble trust and glory in God because they understand that they cannot do it on their own and need the strength, wisdom, guidance, love, mercy, and grace given to them by God.

Humility happens when we cast our cares on God. (v.6-7)

This means bowing to God’s wisdom for our life.

God exalting you could happen in this life or the life to come, but it will happen.

God cares about YOU! (Psalm 54:23- “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you.”)

How can we care for others and put others before myself…”who will care for me?” The God of the universe himself will care for our needs.

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies, yet distance makes no difference; He is praying for me.” -Robert Murray M’Cheyne

Freeing yourself of the constant concern for yourself enables you to truly care for the needs of others.

Keep your head on a swivel, Satan is prowling. (v.8-9)

Be watchful and be alert. (Harry Potter saying “Diagonally” instead of Diagon Alley”) (Antelopes and Lions)

Don’t get caught sleeping (Falling asleep around a prankster at a sleepover)

Satan isn’t here to play around, He wants to kill you. (If you are a child of God he cannot take your salvation, but he can cause you to stumble because of your inability to stay alert) (which is why prayer, Scripture reading, meditation on the word, gathering with believers at church, worship, preaching and teaching, etc. is so important to our spiritual alertness).

Satan’s attacks in scripture: bizarre or violently irrational evil behavior especially to christians or the gospel (), slander and falsehood in speech (), increasing bondage to self-destructive behavior (), stubborn advocacy of false doctrine (), sudden and unexplained onslaught of emotions (such as fear, hatred, depression, anxiety, violent anger, etc.) that are contrary to God’s will and inappropriate in one’s situation ( flaming darts of the evile one in ), and deep spiritual uneasiness. However, there is much evil that is not directly from Satan or demons but from sin remaining in our hearts or in the lives of unbelievers. -Wayne Grudem

Resist Satan by Faith.

Know that when we resist temptation, when we expect the enemy to flee, that God’s kingdom will advance, that they will grow in faith and holiness through conflict, and God will take Satan’s plans for evil and turn them to their good.

God will restore you after you have suffered (v. 10-11)