Leader/Follower, God's Roles

Introduction

Over the past week, I’ve been listening to a book called, “The Death of Expertise” by Tom Nichols. In the book he talks about the fact that today everyone’s idea or opinion is just a valid as an “Expert’s” opinion. He builds the argument that people no longer trust the “Expert” because the expert’s opinion or belief is no more valid than my opinion or belief.

In our passage today, Peter discusses the roles that God has for people in His church. If you have your Bibles I want to encourage you to turn with me to 1 Peter 5 and we’ll begin reading in verse 1.

1 Peter 5:1–4 NIV84

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

Elders

Who’s an Elder

The Greek word is presbyterōs which means older person, church leader. In this context presbyterōs is talking about the shepherd of the flock.

Shepherd

Guide the Flock to Jesus

As a shepherd of God’s flock I’m to preach God’s Word. Look at 2 Timothy 4:2.

2 Timothy 4:2 NIV84

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

Protect the Flock

The shepherd is to dispute false doctrine. Paul warns Timothy,

2 Timothy 4:3–5 NIV84

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Love the Flock

Pastors are to love the flock not out of sense of duty but out of genuine care for the people.

Romans 12:9 NIV84

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

Do you HATE evil?

Do you love unconditionally with sincerity?

Not Greedy

Elders, shepherds care for God’s people without a love of money.

1 Timothy 6:10 NIV84

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

What are we pursuing?

Serve the flock

Those who are called to care for God’s people and lead by example. That’s why Paul could say,

1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV84

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

How about you? Can you say, “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ?

God’s Promise

When the Chief Shepherd appears, the shepherds will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

The Greek word translated crown is the word stephanōs which is a victor’s wreath—but this wreath will never fade away. It is not perishable.

What are you chasing after? Are you chasing after the world’s success, or are you chasing after a crown that won’t fade away?

Peter now turns to those in the church. He addresses them as young men.

1 Peter 5:5 NIV84

Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Young Men

Peter uses the phrase in the same way. Just like the shepherd carries out certain duties, church members (young men) also have duties to carry out.

Be Submissive

This is the same word used in 2:13; 18; 3:1. It’s the Greek word hypotassō which is translated here submissive.

Are you submissive to the leaders God has placed in your life?

How about those leaders you don’t like or disagree with?

Clothed with Humility

Everyone of us is to put on—clothe—humility. What is humility? Some people suggest that humility is letting people take advantage of them (at least that is their big fear).

Are you clothed in humility or are you clothed in self-righteousness?

God Opposes the Proud

If you want God’s grace (God’s unmerited favor) we must be humble! Humble towards people and humble towards God!

1 Peter 5:6–7 NIV84

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

Humble Under God’s Mighty Hand

There are three things that I want us to think about from, verse 6.

1. What does humbling yourself before God look like?

For the past two weekends, Deann and I have kept some of our grandchildren. As they were with us, they wanted to know what I was doing—even when it didn’t pertain to time. And they wanted to tell me what they thought. They wanted to know what what they were eating, and had the need to tell me what they liked or didn’t like. Honestly, I didn’t care. It was supper and they were going to eat it whether they liked it or not.

When it comes to God, there are many times when I’m like my grandchildren. I want to tell God what I think, what I want, or what I think He ought to do—that is NOT humbling myself before God.

2. Might Hand of God

I want us to see God’s mighty hand. You see it is God’s mighty hand that takes me into the trials and it is God’s mighty hand that protects me in the trials producing qualities in my life that cannot be produced in any other way!

3. God can (and will) lift me up—in due time.

It’s all about timing. God’s timing, not mine! God will lift us up according to our plan, and in the manner He sees fit!

Are you accepting of God’s work in your life? Even if it means you will suffer in this life?

Cast ALL Your Anxiety on Him

Peter quotes from Psalm 55:22.

The word translated cast means to throw. If you are casting or throwing something you are not hanging on to it! It is out of your hands, and headed to the hands of another!

The word translated anxiety can mean care, worry, or concern.

Can you (will you) cast your cares, worries, concerns, and anxiety on the Lord?

Or will you hang on to those cares, worries, concerns, or anxieties so that you have to solve them yourself?

There is a simple reason we can cast our anxieties on to God. It’s because He cares for us! We are more important to God than we are to ourselves!

That means when I find myself worrying about things, and trying to figure out how I’m going to handle things, I’m not believing God’s mighty hand can handle things! And that is a problem.

Conclusion

You and I have jobs that God has given us!

You and I can never claim to be too old for God to use, because He has a job for Elders.

You can’t claim to be too young because God has a job for those who are young!

It comes down to how you and I live! You see the truth is that the young person is old to someone and can act as a shepherd to that younger person!

We are to care for others! Serving in love, and humility. Serving as God leads. And we keep serving, loving, and caring while letting God keep the records!

We are to humbly sever one another and we are to humble ourselves under God’s might hand—allowing Him to use us however he wants to use us.

And we are to throw all of our cares, worries, and fears—our anxieties on Him, believing the truth that He really does care for us!

[PRAYER]