1 Peter 5:5-9

1 Peter • Sermon • Submitted 9 months ago • Presented 9 months ago

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Church Stability Through Responsive-Membership

Last Sunday, we learned about the importance of servant-leadership for the stability of the church…Peter exhorted the Elders to shepherd (care, feed, protect) the flock of God. God gave Shepherds because our hearts are prone wander.

Today, we are going to look at verses 5-9, and this is Peter’s exhortation (a series of commands) to the church members who are usually young in comparison to the elders - a command to show Responsive-Membership for the stability of the church.

Both Servant-Leadership and Responsive membership is commanded and at the same time expected and made possible because God is continually working in raising, transforming, and equipping the heart of elders and members.

The key verse is found in verse 5

1 Peter 5:5 NIV

You who are younger = Addressed to church members (neos = young person, new believers)

submit yourselves (imperative) = to be submissive, to place under the care and influence, to be subject.

Humility = An attitude of lowliness and obedience, grounded in the recognition of one’s status before God as his creatures.

God commands humility = Exodus 10:3 , Colossians 3:12

The Gospel is for the humble, lowly, spiritually bankrupt souls -(Matthew 5:3, Matthew 5:5). The Gospel transforms the proud and boastful heart to humble hearts.

So, What is responsive-membership looks like?

Responsive Membership

1. In obedience to God, humbly submit to the care and authority of the Elders (v.5a)

a. I will seat under their teachings and listen to their wisdom and instructions.

b. I will get counsel from them.

Regardless if you are older in age, have higher educational attainment. Submission to the Elders is a submission to God because it is God who gave the command.

1 Peter 5:5 NASB95

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Example of Humble submission to Servant-Leadership

1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 NASB95

12 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, 13 and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

Submission to elders should not feel like a task but a joyful response to their hard-work and labor, living an example for the flock.

Hebrews 13:7 NASB95

7 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

2. In obedience to God, humbly commit to the vision and mission of the church. (vv.5b-9)

a. I will think of ways to serve my fellow brethren (v5b-6)

1 Peter 5:5–6 NIV

5 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.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

All of you = plural, addressed to the church

clothe yourselves with humility = to put on, to tie on, to put on humility (repeated from 1 Pet. 3:8, 1 Pet. 2:13).

humility toward one another = humility is not just thinking less of your self, but also thinking highly of others - thinking for the greater good of others and in this context - the greater good of the spiritual family - the church!

Romans 12:3 NASB95

3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Romans 12:10 NASB95

10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

God will exalt you in the proper time

(present situation, future = glorification)

Luke 14:11 (NASB95)

11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

b. I will trust God to take care of me and my brothers and sisters in Christ (v.7)

1 Peter 5:7 NASB95

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

You = both in plural, this is addressed to the church.

Casting = to place upon, to put-on God, a continual dependence, God wants us to stay in close touch with Him, and if we cast our care upon Him never to feel the pressure, the anxiety, the tension, the worry again, we would not be people who pray.

Anxiety = care, worry

a. suffering and persecution can cause anxiety,

b. character differences, boastful and proud hearts of members, sleeping or inactive members, mag-away nga members can cause concerns.

c. problematic elders (lazy, covetous, hungry for power) can cause anxiety

d. Material and Financial needs of the church can cause worries

The antidote to this concern is the reality that God cares for you believer! He rescued the Israelites from the persecution in Egypt, He will also rescue the church from the persecution of the evil World!

cast all you cares to God (Psalm 37:5

Psalm 37:5 NASB95

5 Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

c. I will seriously take accountability with myself and my brothers and sisters because the enemy is real! (vv.8-9)

1 Peter 5:8–9 NASB95

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

be self-controlled and alert (imperative) = to abstain from things (alcohol, addiction) that would take your heart and mind away from God and would make you spiritually weak and a willing victim of Satan...

Resist (imperative) = to oppose, to stand against. Do not give in!

How to resist? by Being FIRM in your Faith

Firm = hard, solid, strong, stable faith

Reflection:

Am I walking in dependence with Christ?

Is my brethren walking in dependence with Christ?

Satan is the ultimate symbol of pride and a victim of it!

Isaiah 14:12–15 NASB95

12 “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, You who have weakened the nations! 13 “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. 14 ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 15 “Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, To the recesses of the pit.

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Chapter 5)

Our responsibility is not to make sure that those in authority over us make the right decision. Our responsibility is to make sure we’re the right people.