What you should expect from your Pastor?
1 Peter 5:1-4
1.Peter the Apostle (v.1)
Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ,
and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
A. He was an Elder (v.1a)
„à Writing to the elders, Peter identified himself as a fellow elder, not a superior. The word ¡§elder¡¨ presbuteros meaning a man called by God to be a minister to the flock of God. He asked them to ¡§be shepherds of God¡¦s flock,¡¨ exactly what Jesus had told him to do. This was the time where Peter was restored from disobeying and denying Christ.
John 21:15-17 After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?""Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." [16] He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep." [17] Then he said it a third time: "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, "Do you love me?" so he answered, "Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my sheep¡¨
This passage tells us that an elder first priority is to love the Lord with total commitment. Unswerving devotion to the Lord¡¦s service as an undershepherd who cares for the Body of Christ the Church.
„à Peter was taking his own advice as he worked along with the other elders in caring for God¡¦s faithful people. His identification with the elders is a powerful example of Christian leadership, where authority is based on service, not power (Mark 10:42-45).
Mark 10:42-45 Jesus got them together to settle things down. "You’ve observed how godless rulers throw their weight around," he said, "and when people get a little power how quickly it goes to their heads. [43] It’s not going to be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. [44] Whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave. [45] That is what the Son of Man has done: He came to serve, not to be served¡Xand then to give away his life in exchange for
many who are held hostage."
„Ã There is no room for domineering leaders in the church, they call this the Diotrephes in the Church who loves to have the preeminence (selfish, self-centered, self-promoting and self-seeking). He wants to be served, not served.
3 John 1:9-10 I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. [10] So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us. Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers. He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.
Gaius on the other hand showed the opposite (1-6). Verse 3 tells us that fellow Christians continually praised God for His lifestyle ¡§walked in truth.¡¨ Verse 5 John tells us that Gaius was faithful meaning he loved the Christians and non-Christians. His reputation for hospitality and kindness was well known throughout the churches.
B.He was a witness of Jesus¡¦ death (v.1b)
„Ã Peter was an eye-witness to the sufferings of Christ. He actually saw,
The ridicule, mockery, and cursing of Christ.
The questioning and doubting of Christ.
The unbelief and rejection of Christ.
The denial and rebellion against the claims of Christ.
The accusation and charges against Christ.
The sufferings of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane.
The beatings and abuse Christ bore in His trials.
The mockery and death of Christ upon the cross.
2. The Duty: Feed the flock of God (v.2-3)shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; [3]nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
„à Peter¡¦s command that the elders care for the flock of God echoed Jesus¡¦ words to Peter himself, ¡§Take care of my sheep¡¨ (John 21:16). The same Greek word is used in both places, meaning ¡§to shepherd,¡¨ ¡§to tend,¡¨ or ¡§to take care of,¡¨. The ¡§flock¡¨ is the believers; elders had charge over individual churches and thus over a certain part of God¡¦s ¡§flock.¡¨ Elders were to be like shepherds who feeds the sheep that is teaching. Every elder msut be able to teach.
„Ã Furthermore, shepherd also needs to protect the sheep.
Acts 20:28-30 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. [29] I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. [30] Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.
Paul in Eph 4:11-12 commands the pastor-teacher to equip the saints. Verse 16 that the flock of God (Christians) should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men (savage wolves) in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.
A. Willingly, not by Force (v.2a)
„à The pastor should not be forced to minister, not be lazy. He should willingly feed the flock of God. He should never have to be forced to minister to God¡¦s people. It should be the joy of His heart. Not because you must, but because you are willing. This is a call for Elders to serve out of love for God. In 2 Timothy Paul paints for images of what an elder should be, as a good soldier v 3 (devoted), worker (requires maximum effort v15), hardworking farmer v 6 to labor to a point of exhaustion.
B. Readily, not for Gain (v.2b)
„à Elders are not in ministry for what you they will get out of it, but because you are fulfilling your calling. This temptation to be greedy probably arose because the church¡¦s finances (the money collected for the poor, etc.) usually were entrusted to the elder or overseer. The opportunity to abuse the trust was very real. Thus, both Peter and Paul explained that elders were to be paid adequately and were to be trustworthy with money (cf. 1 Tim 3:8; 5:17-18; Tit 1:7, 11). Instead of money, elders were to focus on serving.
„à The word for ¡§eager¡¨ is very strong in the Greek, expressing great zeal and enthusiasm. Today pastors receive pay for serving, but pastors can fall prey to the greedy desire for money. Not having money can lead to as much preoccupation with funds as having a lot of money.
1 Thes. 2:9 Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 1 Tim. 3:8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.
C. As an Example, not Dominating (v.3)
„à We talked about Diotrephes. The prophet said like people, like priest. Sheep¡¦s by nature are followers, they follow their shepherd in hope that the shepherd is leading them to greener pasture and still waters. In 1 Timothy 4:12 Paul tells Timothy to be an example to the flock in 5 areas
1 Tim. 4:12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
He was to be an example in his speech, life, love (self-sacrificing service for others), faith (commitment), and in purity (sexual purity). Verse 16 furthermore Paul commands Timothy to pay a close attention to himself (his personal holiness).
3. The Reward: The Unfading Crown of Glory (v.4)
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
A. From the Chief Shepherd (v.4a)
„à The Chief shepherd is Jesus Christ. The Judge. The word appears refers to Christ¡¦s second coming, when he will return to judge all people. who is over all and to whom we shall all give an account.
B. At His appearance (v.4b)
„à From this verse it tells us that He will appear. This is at the second coming where He will evaluate our ministry. Yes I mean ¡§our.¡¨ In this context it¡¦s talking to Pastor¡¦s. Warning was given to pastor and teachers in James 3:1 that they will incur a stricter judgment.
„à At that time, the elders (along with all believers) will receive a reward, a never-ending share in Christ¡¦s glory and honor.
1 Cor. 3:13-15 his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. [14] If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. [15] If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
This is a proper motivation for service in the face of suffering and temptation. All believers will be declared winners and will receive a wonderful, everlasting reward. This could be their source of strength and encouragement in times of trial. (Cf Mt 25:23, 1 John 4:17)
