The Grace Needed to Combat Suffering: Part 5
Notes
Transcript
Handout
I Peter is God’s letter to the church that describes in great detail the grace that is essential in order to navigate through suffering so that the church will not only survive, but thrive in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.
One thought summary by chapter:
I Peter 1: The grace of hope- “born again to a living hope”
I Peter 2: The grace of calling- “For to this you have been called”
I Peter 3: The grace of blessing / vindication- “Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.”
I Peter 4: The grace of suffering- “Since therefore Christ suffering in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.”
I Peter 5: The grace of 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,
In order to thrive as a church- unto the glory of God- even in suffering, we desperately need the grace of humility to saturate the heart of every person in this local body.
Peter shows us our need for the grace of humility by showing us what a church will look like when every heart of every person is throughly saturated with humility.
What would that kind of church look like? And how would that kind of church handle the fiery trial of suffering?
First, I want to define exactly what I mean when I say- every heart of every person in this church needs to be saturated with the grace of humility.
How do we think biblically about the idea of humility?
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Paul begins his definition of humility with the negative:
This is the exact opposite of a heart saturated with humility. To have no humility whatsoever means that everything you do is driven by self ambition or conceit.
Selfish Ambition- used by Aristotle to denote a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means. Everything they do is to make themselves look bigger, it is just for themselves.
Conceit- vain or exaggerated self-evaluation
Positively: humility means to count other more significant than yourselves.
What does that mean? This is NOT false-modesty or false-humility. I tell my wife all the time that I got the better end of the deal when we got married and for 15 years we have the same argument- when clearly she is just suffering from false-modesty.
Humility does not mean that I walk around thinking of myself as a worthless individual. Why not? Because Jesus himself had humility- and Jesus is very God of very God. It would be a sin for Jesus to consider himself a worthless individual- because clearly Jesus Christ is deserving of all glory. So, what are we talking about? How do we count others more significant that ourselves?
4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
The grace of humility is this- that God so completely changes your heart that your natural, free, joyful, instinctual inclination is to always put the interests of others ahead of your own.
This is exact opposite of the nature that we were born with- our sinful hearts always desire to elevate self and make everything about me. But, a heart transformed by grace learns to put the interest of others ahead of their own. Only grace can do that- we are utterly dependent upon God to accomplish this work in our hearts, and yet we have to work in out in our lives and in our church.
So what we need, especially in the midst of suffering, is a church where everyone’s hearts are so saturated with humility- that at every level of ministry we are all constantly putting each others interests ahead of our own. This is the essential grace that is needed to combat suffering.
What does a church look like when every heart of every person is throughly saturated with humility?
This church needs the grace of humility so that:
I. We will have pastors that wisely and rightly shepherd and oversee the flock (vv. 1-4)
I. We will have pastors that wisely and rightly shepherd and oversee the flock (vv. 1-4)
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:
1Πρεσβυτέρους τοὺς ἐν ὑμῖν παρακαλῶ
So, I exhort (earnestly appeal- P,A,I,1,S) the elders among you
ὁ συμπρεσβύτερος
as a fellow-elder
καὶ μάρτυς τῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ παθημάτων,
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ,
ὁ καὶ τῆς μελλούσης ἀποκαλύπτεσθαι δόξης κοινωνός·
and a participant of the glory about 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;
2ποιμάνατε τὸ ἐν ὑμῖν ποίμνιον τοῦ θεοῦ
Shepherd the flock of God among you,
ἐπισκοποῦντες
(continually) exercising oversight (P,A,Part,N,MS) (Oversight in terms of ministry- if the pastor is the only one doing the primary work of the ministry is he supposed to oversee himself? Oversight only works when the whole flock is doing the work of the ministry)
μὴ ἀναγκαστῶς ἀλλʼ ἑκουσίως κατὰ θεόν,
not under COMPULSION- constraint, BUT willingly according to God,
μηδὲ αἰσχροκερδῶς ἀλλὰ προθύμως,
and not FOR SHAMEFUL GAIN- greedily (in fondness of dishonest gain), BUT EAGERLY- (eager to be of service- eager to meet the needs of others rather than seeking gain for myself- HUMILITY!! By definition right out of Philippians 2:4)
3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
3μηδʼ ὡς κατακυριεύοντες τῶν κλήρων
And not DOMINEERING- as one lording it over those entrusted/allotted to you
ἀλλὰ τύποι γινόμενοι τοῦ ποιμνίου·
BUT being examples to the flock:
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
4καὶ φανερωθέντος τοῦ ἀρχιποίμενος
And when the chief Shepherd (a shepherd who is preeminent in authority and skill over all other shepherds) appears,
κομιεῖσθε
you will receive
τὸν ἀμαράντινον τῆς δόξης στέφανον.
the unfading crown of glory.
What does a church look like when every heart of every person is throughly saturated with humility?
This church needs the grace of humility so that:
II. We will have young believers that joyfully follow the pastor’s authority- namely his preaching of God’s Word and his own personal example (v. 5a)
II. We will have young believers that joyfully follow the pastor’s authority- namely his preaching of God’s Word and his own personal example (v. 5a)
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.”
5Ὁμοίως, νεώτεροι, ὑποτάγητε πρεσβυτέροις·
Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders;
Who are the elders?
Pastors
Older mature believers = advanced in age
Who are the younger?
Those young in the faith
Young people recently appointed as elders
The entire congregation because generally speaking the remaining believers are younger in contrast to the elders.
Those who are literally younger in age- perhaps because younger people would be more apt to act rebelliously. Especially significant is 5b where younger would be contrasted to “all of you” indicating the whole congregation.
Young people- you have need of the grace of humility! And one of the ways you can learn this grace is to submit yourself under the authority of your pastor. This is not, or at least it should not be a distasteful thing.
Really, if the church is functioning well, and the grace of humility is saturating every heart in the church- then it is a beautiful thing.
It starts with the elders/pastors- who by means of humility are constantly putting the needs of others before their own- that should be evident in their lives- both by their preaching and by their example. So young people, as your pastors pour their lives into you and they tell you from God’s Word that you should do the same- as you hear their preaching and see the Word of God transform their lives- submit to that authority by imitating their faith. That is, start putting other interests ahead of your own. (Disciple-making perfect context to start doing that!)
What does a church look like when every heart of every person is throughly saturated with humility?
This church needs the grace of humility so that:
III. We will have an entire congregation that is constantly considering the interests of one another as more important than their own interests (v. 5b)
III. We will have an entire congregation that is constantly considering the interests of one another as more important than their own interests (v. 5b)
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.”
πάντες δὲ ἀλλήλοις τὴν ταπεινοφροσύνην ἐγκομβώσασθε,
and all of you clothe yourselves (dress yourselves, tie on like a cloak) with humility (Same word as in Phil 2.3) toward one another
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
ὅτι Ὁ θεὸς ὑπερηφάνοις ἀντιτάσσεται,
Because God (Himself) opposes the proud (arrogant)
ταπεινοῖς δὲ δίδωσιν χάριν.
But gives grace to the humble.
I don’t feel like it yet- I’m not going to act until God changes my heart! (Dangerous thinking) Humility demands obedience- the beautiful part is we don’t have to wait until we feel like it. If we just give God a little bit of obedience, the promise is He will overwhelm you with grace. God gives grace to the humble- here we have the beautiful paradox of human will and divine sovereignty.
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling- FOR it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
If you will just start (however imperfectly) and give God your joyful obedience through humility- God will give you grace! But, He opposed the proud/arrogant.
Suggestions- disciple-making, evangelism, prayer (it is arrogance to come and only sit in the pew, the mentality of “what can I get out of church today” is completely backwards- it is pure arrogance)
What does a church look like when every heart of every person is throughly saturated with humility?
This church needs the grace of humility so that:
IV. We will have every member of the body joyful submitting to God by eager serving others even through suffering and adversity (vv. 6-11)
IV. We will have every member of the body joyful submitting to God by eager serving others even through suffering and adversity (vv. 6-11)
6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
6Ταπεινώθητε οὖν ὑπὸ τὴν κραταιὰν χεῖρα τοῦ θεοῦ,
Therefore, humble yourself under the mighty hand of God,
ἵνα ὑμᾶς ὑψώσῃ ἐν καιρῷ,
so that He might exalt you in time,
Suffering - then - glory theme: humble yourself- considers God’s interests as more important that your own- and likely this will lead you into suffering. Are you willing to joyfully submit? Put yourself under His might hand and in time, He will (with that same mighty hand) exalt you.
What is the last thing we feel like doing when we are enduring suffering? Serve others. When you come home from the longest, hardest, most painful, most trying day at work- what is the only thing on your mind? Playing with your kids, helping with supper, doing the laundry, ministering to your spouse? No way- its ME TIME! That is our natural inclination- suffering comes and I gotta take care of MYSELF. Once my life returns to relative ease, then I will think about others. But, God says, in the midst of suffering live out the grace of humility! How do we overcome our natural arrogance and live humility?
We humble ourselves under God’s might hand and here are some ways we do that:
7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
7πᾶσαν τὴν μέριμναν ὑμῶν ἐπιρίψαντες ἐπʼ αὐτόν,
Hurling all your anxieties upon Him,
ὅτι αὐτῷ μέλει περὶ ὑμῶν.
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.
8Νήψατε,
Be sober-minded
γρηγορήσατε.
Stay awake
ὁ ἀντίδικος ὑμῶν διάβολος
Your accuser the devil
ὡς λέων ὠρυόμενος
as a roaring lion
περιπατεῖ
prowls around
ζητῶν τινα καταπιεῖν·
(constantly) seeking someone to swallow up / devour / to cause the complete and sudden destruction of someone
9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
9ᾧ ἀντίστητε στερεοὶ τῇ πίστει
Resist him firm/solid/strong in the faith
εἰδότες
knowing
τὰ αὐτὰ τῶν παθημάτων
that the same sufferings
τῇ ἐν κόσμῳ
in the world
ὑμῶν ἀδελφότητι
by your fellow believers
ἐπιτελεῖσθαι.
Are being experienced.
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.
10Ὁ δὲ θεὸς πάσης χάριτος,
And the God of all grace,
ὁ καλέσας ὑμᾶς
the one who has called you
εἰς τὴν αἰώνιον αὐτοῦ δόξαν
into the eons of His glory,
ἐν Χριστῷ
in Christ
ὀλίγον παθόντας
after you have suffered a little while
αὐτὸς καταρτίσει,
Himself (personally) will RESTORE- cause you to be fully prepared (to make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or use)
στηρίξει,
will CONFIRM- cause you to be inwardly firm and committed (confirm, make determined or resolved)
σθενώσει,
will STRENGTHEN- cause you to become more able or capable to engage or undergo certain experience (strengthen)
θεμελιώσει.
will ESTABLISH- provide a secure basis for your inner life and its resource, lay a foundation, provide a firm basis for your belief and practice (cause you to be steadfast)
Both here and now in these moments, and in the midst of your suffering and pain- and on into the eons of eternity:
11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
11αὐτῷ
To Him
τὸ κράτος
the dominion
εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας, ἀμήν.
Unto the eons, amen.
Conclusion: The Grace Needed to Combat Suffering
Conclusion: The Grace Needed to Combat Suffering
In order to thrive as a church- unto the glory of God- even in suffering, we desperately need the grace of humility to saturate the heart of every person in this local body.
Peter shows us our need for the grace of humility by showing us what a church will look like when every heart of every person is throughly saturated with humility.
What does a church look like when every heart of every person is throughly saturated with humility?
We will have pastors that wisely and rightly shepherd and oversee the flock
We will have young believers that joyfully follow the pastor’s authority- namely his preaching of God’s Word and his own personal example
We will have an entire congregation that is constantly considering the interests of one another as more important than their own interests
We will have every member of the body joyful submitting to God by eager serving others even through suffering and adversity