The Humility of Hope

We live in a society of rugged individualism. A net result of that can be feelings of isolation and loneliness. This is true even, or perhaps especially, in local churches like ours.

The story is told of a man whose mother woke him up one Sunday morning and said, “Let’s get up and ready for church!”

“I don’t want to go to church today,” he protested.

“Well, why not? You always go to church,” she replied.

“People always ignore me there,” said the man. “They talk behind my back, they don’t speak to me, and they walk right past me like they’re avoiding me. I’m sick of it! Why should I go?”

“Well, number one,” said his mother, “you have to go because the Lord expects you to go. And number two, you’re the pastor!”

Sound familiar? Whether or not you have the position of the man in the story, we can all feel a sense of disorientation at times, like we’re so invested in activity and busy-ness that we feel overwhelmed, like we don’t even want to show up. Peter gives his audience in today’s passage an answer for that… finding our REST IN CHRIST.

1 Peter 5:1–7 (ESV)

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: 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; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 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.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Jesus doesn’t want us to remain in a state of isolation, overwhelmed by responsibilities. Notice first that...

Jesus Cares About His Churches

It is good to be reminded here that churches are not buildings or places, they are people. People with problems… problems Jesus cares about. Hear these reminders from the Psalms...

Psalm 55:22 ESV

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 40:17 ESV

As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

God is our help. So how has he provided for our aid and assistance?

Delegating Care

Jesus calls the church His Bride. Scripture tells us that every follower of Jesus is added to the Body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 ESV

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

It behooves us here to add, however, that Body, that Bride, that Church universal will not assemble nor gather itself until we reach glory. We will see, we will know… but not yet. So today, we operate in the setting He has established for us to function and thrive in: the local church. And one of the marks of a local congregation are its elders. Others would include: regenerate church membership, regular gatherings of worship, preaching and ordinances.

Peter is speaking with both Apostolic authority and pastoral experience. As an apostle, he speaks with the voice of Christ… his teaching here is not his own, but bears the authority and weight of the voice of God. But he also adds his personal perspective, because his audience includes both pastors and those who have sat under their ministries. It’s significant because he does not appeal to the higher office, but emphasizes the lower one. This self-deprecating reference sets the tone of humility that colors this entire passage.

This confirms for us another important matter: The Christian walk is never intended to be traveled alone. It always is lived out in community. Those problems we experience are not meant to be handled alone. Yes, we have God on our side, but one significant way God makes that assistance evident is through His churches.

Churches have pastors (language of function here), or elders (the definitive term used here), or bishops (another of the functions mentioned here). Those elders are to shepherd. That means to exercise care, as we see this Greek term translated in...

Acts 20:28–29 (ESV)

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;

Since most here are not elders/pastors, note here that a benefit you should expect and receive as a member here at Calvary is care. Those problems you face, those burdens you bear are not yours alone to carry.

But also understand this: we cannot bear your burdens if you isolate yourself. Peter notes that elders must shepherd the flock, but Jesus also is...

Directing Conduct

…of the members of His flocks. Refer back to

1 Peter 5:5 ESV

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.”

“Be subject.” This will mean, among other things, being present and exposed, so that you can be over-seen. The gathering of saints is so important… because as much as we might want to conceive of “pastoral care” as visiting and personal encounters (and that is a definite component of the ministry or a good pastor!), if that is all it is, who would be capable of fulfilling that role? A shepherd knows his sheep, but a shepherd has to also manage the whole flock. There are means by which this can be accomplished that aren’t always one-on-one. With real sheep, you might have dogs to help herd the flock, or safe pastures to provide not only sustenance, but boundaries that limit wandering or access by predators. A good pastor will understand that the sustenance of his flock, the boundaries he must establish and maintain, are ones provided to him by the Chief Shepherd, laid out in the pages of Holy Writ.

The direction here is to Humble Yourself. Again, part of the assumption here is that humility has a community context.

Romans 12:3 ESV

For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Romans 12:10 ESV

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:16 ESV

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.

Practicing humility effectively means that we must...

Give Up

Not in the sense of quitting or checking out. This is not a response of despair or disillusion, nor of skepticism or exasperation.

Control

Pastors/elders are reminded in

1 Peter 5:2 (ESV)

shepherd the flock of God that is among you...

That is, it’s not the pastor’s church. It’s God’s. This has to do with accountability, but it also has an element of God’s sovereignty that is comforting here. You shepherd the flock “among you.” Don’t be weighted down by the collective cares outside your jurisdiction. Your primary responsibility is the members of the church you serve.

The same holds true for the parameters of the flock. In this day of individualism and so many voices, we tend to assume and function as if each of us has the capability and insight to shepherd ourselves, or to rely on the direction and influence of the chorus of voices available to us, whether in print, over the broadcast airwaves, or now in the plethora of live stream feeds now available to us. Let me just say to those watching at home… thank you for letting us serve you this way, but please understand, THIS IS NOT CHURCH THE WAY GOD INTENDED. You are getting some benefit of teaching, but we cannot care for you like we should if we rarely or never see you.

The care given to churches is to be given freely. The NIV translation here in v 2 is powerful: “watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be.” There is to be a conscious aversion to being self-serving. It is easy for those not serving in such roles to look at pastoral ministry in some way as satisfying an appetite for power or performance. While modern evangelicalism is replete with such examples, the idea of celebrity or executive power has no place in the mindset of the truly effective servant of Christ. The role of the pastor, lived out by those men and mirrored in the congregations they serve, is to serve Jesus Christ and the people under his charge, to bear their burdens, to spend and be spent.

2 Corinthians 12:15 ESV

I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls. If I love you more, am I to be loved less?

Paul shows here that while he wields authority, even forcefully to the Corinthians at times, it is not control rooted in his own desires, or to cushion his own comforts. Pray for me, and those leading this congregation, that we would be marked by this same mindset.

Concerns

Luke 19:35 ESV

And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it.

Do you understand that. Peter is saying “Throw your concerns on Jesus.” And what does that look like?

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

It was a blessing this last Wednesday night to hear the sounds of prayer across this auditorium. Some may find it tiresome to hear all the conditions and physical problems. Yes, we can do better at how we pray and what we pray for. However, it should also be said here that there is a place for such things in the life of a congregation. While part of what you can do, discerning friend, is to come and provide a better model, part of what we need to do is subject ourselves to the weariness of the “organ recital,” to better understand the struggles our brothers and sisters are facing, so that we know better how to encourage them, and help shoulder their loads.

1. Is there a heart o’erbound by sorrow? Is there a life weighed down by care? Come to the cross, each burden bearing; All your anxiety—leave it there. 2. No other friend so swift to help you, No other friend so quick to hear, No other place to leave your burden, No other one to hear your prayer. 3. Come then at once; delay no longer! Heed His entreaty kind and sweet, You need not fear a disappointment; You shall find peace at the mercy seat.

Refrain: All your anxiety, all your care, Bring to the mercy seat, leave it there, Never a burden He cannot bear, Never a friend like Jesus!

HOPE RESTS IN CHRIST

We cannot detach Christ from His Body… and we experience Body life, however flawed and imperfectly, in the church that he has called us to. Are you resting here… learning contentment, serving, taking joy?

(Comparing spouse to others)

Love the church for who they are… serve the church for Whose it is…give yourself to the church as Jesus gave Himself. Lay your life down… surrender your control,give up your concerns… put them to rest.

NOTICE...

Scripture authorizes two offices in local churches: Elders/Pastors/Bishops and Deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13, Titus 1:5-9). Those who hold the first office are in view in 5:1-4.

In v 6, Peter is citing Proverbs 3:34, also cited in James 4:6.