As a shepherd, as a sheep following the Chief

I declare and believe that the Holy Spirit will move mightily in this place today!

A Jesus Change: Simon to Peter

Mark 1:17 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men”. These words He spoke to a group of fishermen, ordinary people, like you and me who dropped their nets, dropped everything and briskly followed. Their names: Andrew, James, John, and a man named Simon. All these ordinary men would become disciples along with others for our risen Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Today we are focusing on part of a letter, Simon, a plain fisherman who was far from perfect, described as brash, impulsive, and would stumble following Jesus but serves as a great example that Jesus isn’t looking for models but real people who can be changed by His love. When Jesus entered this man's life he became a new person with new goals, priorities, and a new name too Peter ‘the rock’.

Shepherd the Flock!

1 Peter 5:1 reads

1 Peter 5:1 NKJV

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

Peter walked with Christ, He saw who Christ is firsthand! He saw the unexplainable miracles, listened to the eternal teachings of truth, He saw Christ raise dead men and cast out demons. Peter also experienced Christ’s humiliation and suffering at the hands of mere men as this verse says, In the midst of this, he rejected our Lord 3 times. But glory to God Peter was a witness to our Lord's resurrection and a witness to our Lord’s transfiguration. Matthew 17:1-2 reads

Matthew 17:1–2 NKJV

Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.

Peter along with ‘the sons of thunder’ James and John caught a brief glimpse of the glory of Christ. A glory that will soon cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Peter writes this letter, as an elder. The greek Πρεσβύτερος(presbyters), is used here, which means ‘to elders’ or ‘to a community of mature spiritual believers’. Peter here is exhorting or encouraging the community of mature spiritual believers who at that time were suffering and being brutally abused and persecuted for believing in and following Jesus. Peter himself experienced persecution, being beaten and being threatened but he stood firm in his risen Lord. Through the Holy Spirit, he wrote to give comfort and hope to them as well as us thousands of years after, facing the same issues.

Shepherding the flock and why?

1 Peter 5:2-4 reads

1 Peter 5:2–4 NKJV

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords 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 does not fade away.

I would like you guys to go on a journey with me, a journey that started some 3000 years ago in Bethlehem, a place we know all too well and a story that can teach us what it means to be a shepherd. I want you to imagine being a young boy, ruddy and of fine appearance, your father places his flock of sheep under your care. Now becoming a shepherd. This Flock is highly valuable because it is your family's livelihood, it provides milk, cheese, meat, and clothes. This is definitely a great responsibility, but the Lord made you brave and strong. Your father has trained you for this so you watch over them willingly. Eager to serve you learn where the greenest grass grows, and where the freshest water can be found. You walk, and walk so much but if a lamb gets tired, up you go, and you’d carry it on your shoulder. You love your sheep and you lead them lovingly, calling them by name if they wander off. Days, when your sheep are peacefully and safely grazing, would be spent meditating on, thinking about, and praying to your God. You practice your combat skills especially that with a sling. You have a harp and the lovely thoughts about the Lord would be played as music. Songs that soon would bring relief to a King suffering from an evil spirit. At night you light a fire and watch over your sheep ensuring their safety from thieves or beasts. When a beast comes, you react, load your sling, and fire aiming for the forehead. Once you connect you finish them off. These beasts can be lions or bears but your faith in the Lord is strong and He brings you and your flock through the night. You also build relationships with other Shepherds and entrust your flock with them if you have to run an errand for your father. The Lord your God sees these things, He knows your heart because He created you and is your Shepherd. So He sends another of His sheep. A man named Samuel, representing the Lord, anoints you to be the next King.

A word for the sheep, a word for all: Humility

1 Peter 5:5-6 reads

1 Peter 5:5–6 NKJV

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

νεώτερος(neoteros) means young, new . My dear youth we can’t be closed ears to God’s Word or to biblical instructions from those older/ more spiritually mature than us. We can’t let this current culture that says doing what I want has no consequences, or the term yolo rule our thoughts and actions. Trust me I know. If you spit in the sky, it will fall in your eye what a man sows he shall reap. We cannot allow this disease of pride to continue to infect us. On both sides, those who are older, give a ear to listen before assumption and response, hear us and encourage us as Titus 2 says to be self controlled as you in verses 2-3 of that chapter are showing an example in the traits mentioned. There is a Jamaican saying that says if you step over a Child's head when he is young he won't grow very tall or him done grow. I have a word to say to him who stepped over mine, but it's the same with pride, thinking we know everything will cause us to stop growing or not looking where we are going stunt someone else, trust me I know. Once pride steps over our head we done grow until or unless we clothe ourselves with humility. Gucci and Prada are so last year, the humility brand is clothing all of us young and old should wear!

Peter here is referring to that moment of humility our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ showed at the last supper. It reads in John chapter 13 verse 3-5

John 13:3–5 NKJV

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

The disciples are stunned, Shocked minds stifle the tongue, “how can this be” as the Master, Teacher, Chief Shepherd is one by one washing the feet of each of them. Even that of His soon-to-be betrayer. As He gets to Peter whose mind is now unfrozen, the word continues in verses 6-16

John 13:6–17 NKJV

Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.” So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

What an example Jesus is, to us and these disciples who earlier were disputing who among themselves was the greatest.

The Chief Cares

1 Peter 5:7 reads

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

This verse holds a special place in my heart, due to a conversation between me and Pastor Wayne. I left this verse out subconsciously when writing this sermon. Why? I entertained worry and fearful thoughts. But I am no longer a slave and this verse has now become a sword a mighty sword that I use against the enemy! Then I remind myself of a portion of Psalms 139 verses 13-18.

Psalm 139:13–18 NKJV

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.

God cares and will take care of us even when we are crying while being fed like that one goat.

Protection against the lion.

Now we understand the two main phases of the Christian walk shepherd and sheep, and how we are to act in each. Now we must know how to react. Newton's third law is: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The action of humbly following Christ, abiding in the grace of God is met with a reaction of a prowling lion seeking to devour. But I disagree with one word in this law in regards to this analogy, equal. Our Lord and Savior have already won the victory on the cross and through the empty tomb as we celebrated that this past week and has given us the power through the Holy Spirit in us once we get baptized, to follow the next instructions. He is not equal to satan but greater, we are no longer slaves but free, free indeed.

1 Peter 5:7-9 reads

1 Peter 5:8–9 NKJV

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

We can see 4 instructive points in the word of God.

Be alert: Lions usually attack young, sick, or animals that are unaware and not alert.

Resist: We often hear of the group the resistance or rebels in relation to civil unrest and those going against the world order, we Christians should always be united as the body of Christ and wave the banner of the resistance in this world in accordance with the Word of God, saying no to things the Bible says no to and standing up for things the Bible stands with. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says the bible is profitable for teaching and rebuke

Believe: Standing firm in the faith means trusting in the victory of Jesus. The devil uses lies as his primary weapon against us, I implore each of us to know the truth of God, His Word that counteracts the fiery darts.

Remember: We are not alone in the issues we face we will not be the first nor the last to go through our problems, we are surrounded by forgiven sinners and those who have gone through the fire but have endured by the grace of God and strength He has given. All around the world historically and to our present-day Christians have been persecuted, threatened, and mocked but we must remember that we are pilgrims our passport for this destination is temporary.

Grace

1 Peter 5:10 reads

1 Peter 5:10 NKJV

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

The grace of God which is God’s unmerited favor or reward. This grace is perfectly explained by God’s word.

Ephesians 2:1-7

Ephesians 2:1–7 NKJV

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We were dead in our sins ruled by our desires and lusts, but through Christ we are made alive

We cannot work to earn God’s grace it is a gift, a gift we are called to and a gift we receive by accepting Jesus as our Lord and saviour. A gift that is the fourth person through the fires and through the sufferings of life that we need to humbly overcome so our faith may be strong and a gift that leads us to eternal glory in Christ. As mentioned in Rev. 21:3-4. Will you accept that gift today?

Our Chief is Sovereign, our Chief is GOD

1 Peter 5:11 reads

1 Peter 5:11 NKJV

To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Everything in this world belongs to Lord, everything we see, everything we own and even our bodies.

Psalms 24:1-2 reads

Psalm 24:1–2 NKJV

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.

The good news is that our God is alive and sovereign meaning that He is in control of everything, He is King.

He rules not out of hate or lies. He rules out of Love.

One day our Lord is returning, and every knee shall bow and tongue confess willingly or unwillingly that Jesus Christ is Lord. On that day will you be rejoicing or mourning. This message has been preached to you over and over by preacher after preacher so there is no excuse on that day. God is calling you out of grace, out of love 2 peter 3:9 says.

How do you answer that call ? How do you respond to that fire in your belly now?

Could everyone please stand, all eyes closed and heads bowed please. I call the deacons to be at the alter right now.

Step out!

Step out, step out of death and into life. Romans 6:23 reads

Romans 6:23 NKJV

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Step out and follow the good Shepherd

Step out of your pew, walk down to the alter and confess that Jesus is Lord ! Romans 10:9 reads

Romans 10:9 NKJV

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

I invite all to come to the alter and Pray, Pray for our youth and for our elders, not just here but around the world. Pray for humilty, pray for grace. Come pray flock of God!

I call the ushers for tithes and offering.