1 Peter Part 6

 

This message was preached at Word Of Grace Church on October 22nd 2023  by Colin. For the audio & video please click here.  For the worship please click here.

1 Peter 5:1-13 – PART 6

Peter talks more about suffering than any other book in the New Testament. Peter wrote during the reign of Nero. He is writing to the persecuted church, and he is encouraging them that there is something to look forward to.

Peter is addressing the Elders in the church in this chapter and then the young people. He encourages us all to be humble.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8

Verse 8 – He asks us to be alert to the enemies' schemes.

To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: - 1 Peter 5:1

Verse 1 Peter is the great apostle > He is the most mentioned person after Jesus in all the 4 Epistles. Yet he addresses himself as a fellow elder and a witness to Christ’s suffering.

V4 We will share in his glory as a result of our suffering. Paul also reminds us that these sufferings are “light and momentary”.

Elders – Leaders of God’s church. Peter uses 3 words: Elders, Shepherds, and overseers. These refer to the same person who has different functions. Peter uses a common language so that people can relate to him. He calls the church flock and the elder a shepherd.

Jn21 Jesus uses the same language as Peter: “Feed my sheep”.

The flock belong to God, and it is God’s church and God’s people. The elders are under-shepherds who serve under the great shepherd.

Willing – if you have the gift of leadership, you need to serve (2 Cor 9:7), willingly and not under compulsion.

Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. - 2 Cor 9:7

Humility – not lording it over .1 Pet 5:3 – Perhaps Peter remembers Mk10:43 “Who will sit at the right and left hand”.

not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. - 1 Pet 5:3

Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, - Mark 10:43

Do you have a servant's heart? How do you react when you are treated as a servant when you are not acknowledged? Leaders do have authority but lead by example.

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. - 1 Peter 5:4

V4. There is a promise to elders and pastors – there is a special reward for them.

There are many crowns mentioned.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”[a] - 1 Peter 5:5

V5. YOUNG MEN/WOMEN

Be submissive to those who are older. Youths tend to be arrogant. There is value in life experience.

EVERYBODY clothe yourself with humility towards one another. WHY? God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humility delights the heart of God. Even Ahab got a second chance because he humbled himself before God.

We need to be intentional in being humble. It is easier to be humble with those above us in authority than with our equals of those who serve us. We need to be humble with all!

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

V7. Cast all your anxiety on Him.

Are you anxious? Throw your burdens at Jesus' feet because HE cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. - 1 Peter 5:8

V8. Be self-controlled and alert. Why? The enemy is on the prowl. The moment you became a Christian God became your Father and the devil your enemy. He is known by many names.

2 Cor 2:11 – Do not be unaware of the devil's schemes.

Peter tells us to resist him and stand firm in the faith. Job stood firm in faith. “Even though He slay me, yet will I praise him”.

Trails test your faith. Will you trust God or give in to the lies of the enemy?

Be self-controlled and alert.

Be sober.

Resist the devil.

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of suffering. - 1 Peter 5:9

V9. We are not alone in our suffering. Many Christ followers do not have the freedom to meet the way we do. We need to keep our eyes on the glory that awaits us. Satan may roar but we have the Lion of Judah who roars.

Resist – what does that look like? We need to respond to problems differently.

She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. - 1 Peter 5:13

V11-13 She is in Babylon – it was a secret way of referring to the church in Rome.

God will give us grace to endure suffering and God watches over us and we need to remind ourselves that we have a great hope and future. Let us grow in humility, love and serve one another. Amen.

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English-speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service.  Word of Grace is part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.   

Caring for the Church – Part 2: Handling Hot Potatoes

Handling Hot Potatoes!

This is a summary of a seminar given by Malcolm Kayes at TOAM2011 , Bangalore

The pastoral and the prophetic go hand in hand. Hosea 12:13. “The LORD used a prophet to bring Israel up from Egypt, by a prophet he cared for him.” Some people think you are either a pastor or a prophet. But Moses was both. You may be stronger in one of them but you need both in the church.

Acts 20:28:   Keep watch over yourself and the flock. Be Shepherd of the church of God which he bought with his blood. So don’t ever apologize for being a Shepherd. You won’t be perfect. You can apologize for making mistakes but not for leading people.





This is our responsibility and our role. God has appointed you to Shepherd his church – be confident in this otherwise you will be hesitant and fearful of people. This is in any context – be it the small group, small church etc.

Discipling and shaping those under your care

1 Vision: Giving purpose for the context always helps. We as church are there for building one another up and for reaching out. So you set the pattern and atmosphere through your vision.

2. Teaching: We don’t lead by coercion. You lead by showing people what God’s word says. You illuminate their conscience through the Word of God. That’s how you lead. The best leadership is inspirational and motivational. Sometimes you lead more forcefully or deliberately ( like what you do with kids)but not always. People must learn responsibility and consequences through an enlightened conscience.

3. Example – This is the best. Are you faithful to others? Leading in a local church is where the rubber hits the road. Encouragement – thanking people who serve. We must always do it. The serving team are heroes – they need loads of encouragement. We must exhort people. The New Testament is full of it. It has its place - privately and publically. We need a positive culture within the church.

 Here are some Pastoral responsibilities and tools

3 levels of care:

1.      Basic – the one anothering in church. A lot of people push onto the church what they do not want to do themselves. Friendship, social times are important. Small groups – is it pastoral or evangelical. You need a philosophical framework for pastoral care. Teach people to do the basics for one another. Your best friend is your best counsellor – they know you best. Be clear about the role of a small group leader – do they care of the people pastorally? If so train them to do that. Let them know what they should pass onto their senior leaders .This has to do with responsibilities and spheres of authority.

2.      Specialist Care – This deals with life controlling issues like unforgivenss, eating, alcohol. Do you have a way of dealing with this? 3 areas of care-1. Fan into flame – helps people with their strengths, gifts or burdens.2. Life shapers – 8 weeks. They have prayer partners to help them.23. Prayer counselling – for charactering relational issues. We have a team of people who spend three evenings with these people initially.

3.      Crises care – this is an emergency situation where it’s all hands on deck,. Anyone available go first eg) a death, accident etc.

Watch out for energy sappers – they want your time but won’t put any effort into changing. They attract attention to themselves and get a lot of attention for others as well. Sometimes they need boundaries and need action points.

Making disciples – we also have leadership training.

Dealing with the weak,  and the wayward.

Some sheep are silly and some sheep are actually wolves.

·        Be prepared to follow hunches /promptings of the Holy Spirit. HE has made you the leader. If someone has a poor attitude or bad body language – don’t get hyper, have a gracious talk. Ask how they are doing and open the door for conversation.

·        Beware of church hoppers – it’s not wrong to leave but it’s more profound that you think especially if they live in the same locality. Sometimes its unresolved issues and you need to check that. Beware of those who want to make a contribution too quickly – those with vitality, vigour. Be careful of those who just lead of out of their gifting and not character. When you have people’s heart – you have their faithfulness, giving, attending and gifts.

Context for admonition:

Be patient and resilient. Sometimes we want quick change. God is patient with us. Sometimes progress is slow. Also be a little thick skinned. It’s not that you are without emotion but you should be able to absorb pain and disappointment and move on. Choose not to be offended. There’s no need to take abuse – stand up but don’t take offense.

Wisdom – discern between big and small issues. Sometimes they are small and sometimes its big. So ask questions.

1 Discern between big and small issues. Sometimes they are small and sometime big. So ask questions. Is this a mistake/sin caused by immaturity or will fullness. This will determine the response.

Is the person a mature Christian or an immature one? Just because they have been in church a long time does not mean they are mature.

Is this person idle, timid or weak .1Thes 5:14 warn, encourage, help and lastly encourage everyone. Different strokes for different folk.

Has the person got a burden or a load? Gal 6:2, 5. We are to carry each other’s burdens. Each one should carry his own load/responsibility. Burden is an unexpected problem. We should help.

We should encourage people to carry their own load/responsibility. Always work towards people taking responsibility for what they should. Don’t create dependency.

Have you heard both sides of the story?

Confronting people – Am I the person to do this or can someone else? You are safe ground if you don’t like doing it. (if you enjoy it you are a danger to people). Be spiritual – have some discernment. Be loving and considerate and have a desire for restoration.

Pray about the timing and be accountable yourself. Beware lest you get sucked in to their sin. Be a person who known’s God’s word to bring God’s truth. Do it as a brother or sister.

Dancing with the wolves? No thanks!!

We need to be apostolic is dealing with wolves. Don’t ignore the trouble makers. Grace does not mean no accountability, authority and discipline. It’s does not mean everyone agrees. A grace church is an environment where we can share our differences.

Rom 16:17-20 Keep watch. This is often repeated in other epistles. These warnings are not light.

Divisive, pulling in opposite directions, complaints, gossip, unteachable. Different teaching, opposing mission. Paul showed little patients with trouble makers.