Standing Strong in God’s Grace - 1 Peter 5
August 24, 2008
Turn with me this morning to the end of your Bibles, to the book of 1 Peter, chapter 5. We want to finish up our study of the book of 1 Peter today. Remember that Peter is writing to give practical help to Christians dealing with daily problems. He starts by reminding us that we all face trials. They come in all shapes and sizes of trial. Peter says we can expect them to come; so don’t be surprised when they do come. They can be very hard to deal with, but with God’s help, we can make it through. Peter says in spite of the trials in our lives, we are to Live in Hope. Hope is not a futile wishing for a good future, rather hope is the confident expectation that God will work, based upon his character. I can have hope in the midst of trials, Peter tells me, because I am chosen of God - God loved me and elected ME! I am born of God - God not only loved me, but he made me his child. I am destined for good - I have an incorruptible inheritance waiting for me. I am shielded by God’s power - I am completely protected as I face these various trials. Therefore, I can have JOY in the midst of the trials, and I can GROW spiritually.
Peter tells us that because we have hope, we are to Live in Holiness. To do that, Peter calls us to
control our minds, imitate our master, inquire of scripture, anticipate judgment, and confirm our faith.
Next, he tells us we are to Live in Harmony. He says we are to extend ourselves to sacrificial love, and seek to live in unity, because we are children in the same family, stones in the same building, priests in the same temple, and citizens of the same nation.
Then Peter tells us we are to Live as a Herald, we are called to advertise Jesus to the world, to declare his praises in this generation.
Peter tells us we are to Live Humbly, to live a life of submission, to God, to Government, to Bosses, to Spouses, and to One Another.
Then, as we’ve looked at the last few weeks, Peter calls us to Live Honorably, to live redeeming the time. We don’t want to waste our lives. We have wasted enough time already in living like the world. We want to pray more, love more, share more, serve more. We want to control our tongues. We want to control our desires and give and tithe and rejoice.
Today, we move on to chapter 5. Here in this chapter, Peter gives a summary of what he has been talking about. He reminds us that no matter how difficult the situation we are facing, we can stand strong in the grace of God. Let’s look at chapter 5. READ CHAPTER -- PRAY.
No matter how difficult the situation we are facing, we can stand strong in the grace of God. We need to understand this morning, as Peter did, that Satan is a very real adversary. He is not a cute little cartoon figure with a pitchfork and a pointed tail. Rather he is a scheming, calculating, intelligent adversary, who seeks every way possible to cause you to stumble in your spiritual life. We often think of Satan as a fool.
I remember once talking with a lady and she said, “I’m not going to say this out loud, because the evil one can hear.” So she wrote down what she wanted to say. I thought to myself, “So, Satan can hear but he can’t read!”
Satan is a master-planner, an architect of destruction, a 5 star general at causing us to sin. And sometimes we focus on our trials and we want to turn to despair. We look at the things people say, the way others treat us, and we want to give up, we think it’s just no use trying to do the right thing.
But Peter reminds us here in chapter 5 that we can STAND STRONG in the grace of God. As Peter reminds us in verse 10, God can make you strong, firm and steadfast. Paul tells us in Ephesians to Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm. God’s desire for us is to stand firm. And here in 1 Peter 5, we find three ways we stand strong. First,
1. Faithful Leaders Help the Struggling Christian to Stand. Peter starts out the chapter by talking about the leaders of the church: the elders. In the NT, there are several terms used for the church leaders: elders refers to the wisdom and maturity of those who lead; pastors refers to the shepherding care and protection given; bishop or overseer refers to the office held by the elders or pastors. Several terms, but 1 position of leadership.
As Peter writes this passage, he could have written claiming his right as an Apostle and the one who held the keys of the kingdom. He could have claimed that he was the bold, impetuous disciple who stood beside Jesus. Instead, he simply calls himself a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
Peter did not claim great authority, even though he had it. Instead he writes as one who has been a witness, who has experienced and learned firsthand the lessons he writes. Think about some of the things he writes here in this chapter. He talks in verse 1 about the glory to be revealed. Peter understood what that glory was, because he say Jesus display his glory on the mount of transfiguration. He writes in verse 2 about shepherding God’s flock. Peter would have remembered Jesus in John 10 calling himself the good shepherd, and would have remembered Jesus’ call to him in John 21 to be a shepherd to Jesus’ flock. Peter writes in verse 3 about not lording it over others; he would have recalled Jesus’ lessons in Luke 22 about true greatness, about being a servant. Peter writes in verse 5 about clothing ourselves with humility; the term for “clothing” yourselves is the term for a slave putting on an apron around his waist. Peter would have remembered the incident of John 13 of Jesus taking the towel, and humbling himself, and washing Peter’s feet. Peter writes in verse 8 to beware of Satan; and Peter would have remembered Jesus warning him in Luke 22 -- “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Peter did not see Satan as a threat, but after the cock crew twice, Peter remembered and was ashamed.
In the verses of this chapter, we see that as Peter writes, what he is really doing is sharing from his heart, sharing from his own personal experience. Peter wasn’t giving a good academic lesson: rather he was sharing of what he knew to be true with all of his heart. And one of the key things he points out in this chapter is the need for faithful leaders to come alongside of us to help us stand in the day of trial.
Now, let me be quick to remind you here, that each one of us can be a leader and an encourager to someone else. It would be easy to say, That’s right, Pastor Dean needs to do more to help me with my problems. The only problem is that I am only one man. I am glad to come alongside and help where I can. But sometimes we look to the pastor as the scapegoat: If a friend has a problem, call the pastor; if my neighbor needs saved, call the pastor; if a relative has family issues; call the pastor.
First, let me say that I am glad to be involved in coming alongside others, and I will be happy to talk to anyone who has a need. But second, let me also say, that sometimes the greatest help and encouragement that someone else can get will come from YOU sharing from your own personal experience with them. As the missions team travels to Missouri this week to serve, I believe God will use them in powerful ways to be a blessing and an encouragement by the work they do, but even more so, by the testimony they share in their lives.
Who is it that God has placed in your life for you to come alongside? God wants to use each of us for his glory! Each of us can seek to lead and help and encourage others. So, don’t just write off these first verses saying, I’m not a pastor; so these don’t apply to me. Instead, think about the characteristics that God wants from you and every other Christian. God wants us to be SWEET! Christians are to be sweet!
S stands for Shepherds - a shepherd is one who cares for another. When we think of cowboys, we think of the John Wayne type, who drives the herds and corrals them for the night, and goes off to sit by the fire and dream. But a shepherd carries with it a different picture. A shepherd leads his flock. And he constantly has to watch, because sheep love to go astray. The shepherd cares for the sheep, making sure they are in good health. A shepherd provides a much greater level of care.
As a Christian, how good of a job do you do of caring for others? We like to think that everyone should focus on us: I came in and no one shook my hand; I don’t like the songs they picked; someone was sitting in MY seat. But as a Christian, we need instead to think of others. Is there someone I can greet this morning; does anyone have a heavy heart; can I pray with someone; how can I encourage someone.
The Bible is filled with “one another” commands: we are to be devoted to one another, honor one another, live in harmony with one another, love one another, stop passing judgment on one another, make every effort to live at peace with one another, accept one another, instruct one another, greet one another with a kiss, wait for each other, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgive one another, consider others better than yourselves, don’t lie to one another, encourage one another, spur one another on to love and good deeds, carry each other’s burdens, be patient with one another, speak truthfully to one another, pray for each other, and have concern for one another.
When we care for one another, we will each do a good job of being a shepherd to one another.
Have you ever heard about the “body” neighborhood?
Fred Somebody, Thomas Everybody, Susan Anybody, and Joe Nobody were neighbors, but they were not like you and me. They were odd people and most difficult to understand. The way they lived was a shame.
All four belonged to the same church, but you would not have enjoyed worshiping with them. EVERYBODY went fishing on Sunday or stayed home to visit with friends. ANYBODY wanted to worship but was afraid SOMEBODY wouldn’t speak to him. So guess who went to church - NOBODY. Really, NOBODY was the only decent one of the four. NOBODY did the visitation. NOBODY worked on the church building. Once they needed a Sunday school teacher. EVERYBODY thought ANYBODY would do it, and ANYBODY thought SOMEBODY would do it. And you know who did it? That’s exactly right . . . NOBODY!
It happened that a fifth neighbor (an unbeliever) moved into the area. EVERYBODY thought SOMEBODY should try to win him for Christ. ANYBODY could have made an effort. You probably know who won him: NOBODY!
This little parable brings to focus again the fact that each of us is personally responsible for God’s work. If we leave it for somebody or everybody or anybody, nobody will do it.
So we should be SWEET Christians: S is for Shepherds,
W is for Willing - Peter writes in verse 2 - not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be - When we think about caring for one another, we want to do it out of a willing heart, not out of a sense of obligation. I guess we have to invite so-and-so over tonight. Don’t have a grudging heart when it comes to serving God and others. Do it willingly. We don’t do it out of duty, but out of desire. We have a willing heart. Shepherd, Willing
E is for Eager - Peter writes, not greedy for money, but eager to serve - we serve because we are eager, not because we are enticed. When we have an opportunity to come alongside someone else, we shouldn’t have to ask, what am I going to get out of it? Far too many people serve just for credit or recognition or praise of men. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. We need to have hearts that are eager to help. Shepherd, Willing, Eager, the second
E is for Example - we are to live lives that are examples to others. Verse 3 says not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. What type of example do you set for others. When a Christian who is struggling in a certain area looks at your life, will they see that you live out what you are telling them they should do? Your walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.
And then T
T is for Triumph - Peter reminds us in verse 4 - And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. We are to live in triumph, because we know what awaits us. Peter has already told the church in chapter 1 about the inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you. We live in victory, because we know no matter how difficult the things we face in this life, one day we will be rewarded for our faithfulness.
So, when Satan reminds you of your past, you remind him of his future, and of yours.
Christians should be SWEET - shepherds, willing, eager, examples, and triumphant. And when we live like this, it will help struggling Christian brothers and sisters to stand firm. A second help Peter tells us of,
2. Faithful Followers Help the Struggling Christian to Stand. Peter has been talking to leaders, and remember each of us should be seeking to lead, to train, to mentor someone else in the things that we have learned and been taught. We need to have those over us who teach us, those alongside us who encourage us, and those under us whom we help grow spiritually. Now in verse 5, Peter talks about the opposite of the elders, the young men. He says, young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.
Peter gives us a reminder, that we need to respect the wisdom and leadership of those older than us. The tendency and the trap that we often fall into is that we think we know everything. A young man went off to college, and came home four years later, and said to a friend, “It’s remarkable how much wiser my dad has gotten in these last four years.”
I love the Dear Abby tribute to fathers:
When I was:
Four years old: “My daddy can do anything.”
Five years old: “My daddy knows a whole lot.”
Six years old: “My dad is smarter than your dad.”
Eight years old: “My dad doesn’t know exactly everything.”
10 years old: “In the olden days, when my dad grew up, things were sure different.”
12 years old: “Oh, well, naturally, Dad doesn’t know anything about that.
He is too old to remember his childhood.”
14 years old: “Don’t pay attention to my Dad. He is so old-fashioned”.
21 years old: “Him? He’s hopelessly out-of-date!”
25 years old: “Dad knows about it, but then he should, because he’s been around so long.”
30 years old: “Maybe we should ask Dad what he thinks. After all, he’s had a lot of experience.”
35 years old: “I’m not doing a single thing until I talk to Dad.”
40 years old: “I wonder how Dad would have handled it. He was so wise.”
50 years old: “I’d give anything if Dad were here now so I could talk this over with him.
Too bad I didn’t appreciate how smart he was. I could have learned a lot from him.”
Let’s never forget the advice of Leviticus 19 - Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD.
We will gain strength to stand for God when we are humble enough to learn from others, to be instructed by others. Proverbs 15 tells us, If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject criticism, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
What Peter is really saying here is that we need Mutual Humility - see what he says in verse 5:
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
And Peter gives us in verse 7 the lesson of true humility: to realize you cannot deal with your problems yourself. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. That was the first Bible verse that I learned as a child: it was on a plaque in our living room: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Those who humble themselves know their need of God and turn to him and others for help. Those who wish to stand, need to learn to kneel. Or put another way, a lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
But let’s go on to look at the third help for struggling Christians:
3. Firm Resistance Against our Enemy Helps the Struggling Christian to Stand. Peter reminds us in verse 8 who our enemy is: Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. The sad thing is that many Christians forget who the enemy really is. We turn on one another and attack and criticize and tear down our brothers and sisters who are there to support us. Satan blinds us to see how dangerous he really is.
We don’t need to fear Satan. We fear God, but not Satan. But we do need to resist Satan. We stand against him. When he attacks, we do not take the path of least resistance. There are many times it would be so much easier just to give in, to go along with the crowd, to not do the right thing. But every time we do that, Satan gains the victory and gets another stronghold in our life. If you give Satan a foothold, it will become a stronghold.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10 - We are human, but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use God’s mighty weapons, not mere worldly weapons, to knock down the Devil’s strongholds. With these weapons we break down every proud argument that keeps people from knowing God. With these weapons we conquer their rebellious ideas, and we teach them to obey Christ. Or as the NIV states, we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
If you want to stand firm in times of trial, resist the lies of Satan. Don’t give in to despair and fear, but rather resist Satan by thinking about things the way Christ does. Take every thought captive, and think about your situation the way God would have you think.
So, today if we would sum up Peter’s message to us, it is this:
You may have trials -- we all do -- but in the trials, we gain help from faithful leaders over us, faithful followers alongside us, and by firmly resisting the forces of Satan fighting against us. And when we do, we will stand. May God help us to stand faithfully this week.
