December 4, 2016
Morning Service

I Pet. 5

 

            As we finish this first letter of Peter, let me suggest that you take time to review each chapter.  You don’t have to spend a lot of time on each one, but it will help bring the things that we have discussed readily back to your mind.

            Peter, in this letter, has addressed all sorts of people, today he speaks to another group, elders, or older men in the church, and the younger men in the church.     LET’S BEGIN.

 

1Pe 5:1-14  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 

·         Elders?  Some have taken and made this an office of the church.  I believe it is just meant to describe ones age.

·         I am a witness of His sufferings.  I think it is wonderful the way Peter describes his coming rewards.  The glory that shall be revealed.

NOW LOOK AT THE INSTRUCTIONS:

(2)  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 

·         Peter would have remembered this responsibility only too well.  It is what Jesus told him to do three times, when Peter denied he knew the Lord.

·         Now also remember who Peter is writing too.  The people throughout Asia, what we know today as Turkey.  These are the same people that the Apostle Paul evangelized, on his missionary journeys.  Churches have already been established, and Peter’s letters are for further instructions, and encouragement.  This is also where the 7 churches of Revelations are located.  He is giving them a lively hope.

·         He instructs the older men to take charge of the congregations they are in.  Now we know that there are more to it than just taking charge.  This has happened in some churches, and the elders that took over knew nothing of the will of God.  Carnal men over spiritual things. 

·         Authority, let’s look at this for a minute.  There are special instructions from Paul on the qualifications of leadership in the church.  We find that God actually gives gifts to certain men for the leadership, and teaching of the church.  Leave this, and you have chaos, besides not being the church that the Lord said He would build in Matt. 16:18.

·         Instructions for the qualification of Bishops, Pastors, who are the Overseers,  and that of the Deacons, is found in I Tim. 3.    The gift chapter for the ministry to the church is found in Eph. 4:11-12.  Other gift chapters are Rom. 12, and I Cor. 12.  Take time to read them.

·         We need not be ignorant of these truths, we just need to study our Scriptures.

·         Now that explains taking the oversight, or shepherding, or watching out for, the flock.

·         NOW HE SAYS, NOT BY CONSTRAINT:  Meaning don’t feel it to be a burden, or troublesome to you.

·         BUT WILLINGLY.  Accept your calling of leadership with joy, and willingness.

·         NOT FOR FILTHY LUCRE.  Don’t do it for monetary gain.  There is nothing wrong with accepting a wage for your services, but not to over charge.

·         BUT OF A READY MIND.  Accept this responsibility with a ready mind, being enthused about this calling.

·         NEITHER AS BEING LORD OVER GOD’S HERITAGE:  Not thinking you are some kind of a king over God’s people.  Arrogance, and pride, being involved.

·         BUT BEING EXAMPLES OF THE WORD OF GOD, IN LEADERSHIP, AND SHEPHERDING.

·         AND THEN WHEN YOU DO THESE THINGS THE FOLLOWING IS THE REWARD.

(4)  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 

NOW FOR THE YOUNGER MEN:

(5)  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.

·         Younger men are not to be rebellious, but submissive to the leadership of the elders.

Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:

·         Paul explains this idea very well, when he talks concerning the church, as the body of Christ, and the people as members of that body.  We each have different responsibilities, but are of the same body.  Ministering to one another, and helping each other, through love.

for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.  (6)  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

·         Stay humble in your walk with God, and He will exalt you at the proper time.

(7)  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

·         One of the very comforting thoughts in Peter’s writings.

(8)  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 

·         Stay on guard, be on your toes, be watchful.

·         We have to many promises in the Scriptures of our being able to overcome, and defeat satan, for us to be devoured by him.  However, satan is very good at what he does, and can deceive the very best of Christians, causing turmoil, and destruction of their walk with God, and man.

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

·         Greater is Christ in us, than satan is in the world.  We need to resist the devil and he will flee from us.  Listen to James.

·         James said, Jas 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

(9)  Whom(meaning satan) resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 

·         You are not the only ones going through these temptations.  All Christians are tempted by satan, and there are many that defeat satan, and live victorious lives.

(10)  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.  (11)  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

·         God will help us to be overcomers if we only look to Him for help.

(12)  By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. 

·         By Silas, who evangelized this area of people with the Apostle Paul, he knows them, and they know him.  Why Silas is away Paul at this time we are not given.

(13)  The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. 

·         Peter appears to be with the church at Babylon, and so does John Mark.  If you recall it was John Mark, that caused Paul, and Barnabas to part company.  It is believed that this same John Mark wrote the gospel of Mark under  the guidance of Peter.

(14)  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

LORD JESUS, WE THANK YOU FOR PERSERVING THIS GLORIOUS WORD OF GOD.  THANK YOU FOR HELPING US TO KNOW WHAT POWERFUL MEN OUR FOREFATHERS IN THE CHURCH WERE.  HELP US TO ADHERE TO THEIR WORDS OF WISDOM, AND ENLIGHTENMENT, THAT WE MIGHT BE THAT TRUE, AND FAITHFUL CHURCH.  AMEN.