"Peter, Feed My Sheep” (14 Of 21)

But notice, after he addresses the Elders in verses 1-4, he immediately addresses two other groups:

(1) THE YOUTH

Look at verse 5, we read, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

One of the problems in our society is that we make it too easy for the younger generation to get off the hook when it comes to responsibility. That is, we do not hold their feet to fire, and expect them to take responsibility seriously.

We might not, but God’s Word does. Every teenager here today will give account of what they have done with the Word of God, as it was preached by God’s men, as much as the oldest person here will have to give account.

Look at verse 5, we read, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder.”

Do you realize how many young lives could have been spared from the sorrows of life, if they had listened to a godly Elder who shared the Word of God with them? But they have rebelled, and they have paid a great price for it, and still have to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ.

But after Peter tells the YOUTH to submit to the teachings of God’s Word. He also addresses-

(2) THE ADULTS

Look at verse 5 again. We read, “Likewise…submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, ALL OF YOU be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

This matter of SUBMISSION applies to everyone in the church. Why? When God’s man preaches the Word of God, and God’s people are not willing to submit to the Word of God, God cannot do His will through a church like that.

Let me show you several things from this passage.

I. THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS LEARNING

First we discover there is a process to learning. Verses 5-6 teach us that the process of learning is THROUGH SUBMISSION.

Parents and educators are constantly teaching the importance of having goals to their children, but they are not showing young people how to reach those goals.

Illus: How many times have we been to a high school or college graduation exercise, and observed how easy those speakers make it sound to those who are graduating. The impression is given that in a few minutes, these young people with their diplomas in their hands, are going to be thrust out into the world, and like a bird that has been thrust from it nest, they are going to soar into the sky.

But so often, this is not the case. We forget to tell those young people that life is a continuous learning process, and we can only learn, as we are willing to:

* Submit ourselves to someone who knows more than we do

* Humble ourselves, acknowledging we do not know it all

We should constantly be teaching these spiritual truths to the youth, so that they can experience spiritual growth.

Before learning can take place, the student has got to understand some things about-

A. SUBMISSION

Notice the word “submit.” This is a word that we humans do not like. It has two shades of meaning:

1. “To buckle under”, refers to a person who desires to learn something, perhaps about math, science, or English, and he has to be willing to submit himself to someone who knows more than he does. A person can be proud, and pretend he does not need to be taught; but if he wants to learn, he has to buckle under.

2. “Bow”, has a meaning connected with royalty. In the queen's court, a subject recognizes the queen's authority, and acknowledges it by bowing to her. Likewise, for a person to learn, he has to recognize the teacher is over him, and knows things he/she does not know.

Christians today have to get away from the attitude that they KNOW EVERYTHING, and have no need to “submit" to anyone to be taught anything.

* Listen, the reason God gave children parents, is because they need to be taught and lead in the right direction. But when a child has this “know-it-all” attitude, the best parent in this world cannot help them.

* The reason God gave the children of God Pastors is because they need to be taught and lead in the right direction. But when a child of God has this “know-it-all” attitude, the best Pastor in this world cannot help them.

When people pretend to be perfect, no one can help them. NO ONE! And the reason is because they think they are perfect and do not need any help.