1 Peter 5:1-11

Introduction

English Standard Version Chapter 5

5 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: 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; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 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. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Has there ever been a time where you have been humbled in your life? How did it change you? A circumstance, a conversation, etc.

Explanation

1 Peter 5:1-3 “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.”

Peter is specifically addressing elders and pastors in this passage.

Peter equalizes his salvation and his calling. Some pastors feel that they have graduated to the big leagues when God calls them to ministry. Salvation is always the greater of the two.

Peter charges them with several mandatory actions and virtues.

Oversight

not under compulsion, but willingly

not for shameful gain, but eagerly

not domineering, but being examples

1 Peter 5:4-5 “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.””

When Jesus returns, you will gain a crown.

The young of the church need to be subject to the elders.

What does cloth yourself mean? Well, your clothes are often the first things that people see about you. People should firstly see and think, “That person is humble.”

As v5 says, one of the quickest ways to derail your spiritual life is pride.

Also as v5 says, one of the quickest ways to restore your spiritual life is humility.

Pride is tricky. Let me ask you a question: how do we identify pride on our lives and how do we eliminate it?

1 Peter 5:6-7 “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.”

Humble yourself under God’s hand. Humility is protection, when we hide in the care of our father.

God exalts those who are humble? What does that mean?

The cure for anxiety is humility and understanding God’s plan.

1 Peter 5:8-9 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

The devil is like a lion. He will devour you.

We can resist by the power of the Spirit.

1 Peter 5:10-11 “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. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

God...

Restores

Confirms

Strengthens

Establishes

Us

Application

Invitation