Source of suffering

• 1^st – Because of pride… vs. 5-7
  • 1^st – Clothed with humility… vs. 5
    • The FIFTH and FINAL aspect of our SUFFERING – is WHERE it comes from…
      • Likewise you younger people – submit yourselves to your elders.
      • Yes – all of you be submissive to one another – and be clothed with humility!
      • The FIRST source of SUFFERING come from our PRIDE…
      • The cure is HUMILITY [ταπεινοφροσύνη] – 7x in NT – not far off the ground…
      • We are COMMANDED [imperative] – not having an inflated – puffed up view of ourselves!
      • Philippians 2:3 – “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit – but in lowliness of mind [same word] let each esteem others better than himself.”
    • How to be HUMBLE…
      • The YOUNGER [νέος] – those who are NEW believers in Christ…
      • Show HUMILITY by SUBMITTING to the ELDERS [πρεσβύτερος] in the church…
      • SUBMIT [ὑποτάσσω] – is a military command of subordinance…
      • It is a COMMAND [imperative] – but interestingly it is as RESPONSE [passive]
      • The implication is that HUMILITY is shown as we submit to the ELDERS!
      • Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey those who rule over you [elders] – and be submissive – for they watch out for your souls…”
      • God has given wisdom from His word to ELDERS…
      • They have a God given heart to watch out for others – especially those young in the faith…
      • Therefore – it would be wise to listen to when they give Godly counsel…
      • Even if we do NOT agree with something a ELDER says – so long as it is NOT unbiblical…
      • We should SUBMIT because it shows HUMILITY on our part!
    • We are all to SUBMIT to one another…
      • As HARD as it might be for YOUNG believers to submit to ELDERS…
      • It does NOT get EASIER as we mature in our faith – SUBMISSION does not go away…
      • We are ALL called to submit to each other – and be CLOTHED in HUMILITY!
      • CLOTHED [ὑπερήφανος] – only here NT – a WHITE scarf…
      • In the ROMAN empire there were TWO kinds of people – SLAVE and FREE…
      • The SLAVE wore a WHITE scarf to show they would SUBMIT to others!
      • In our PRIDE – we want to be the one telling others what to do…
      • SUBMISSION is a check to our PRIDE – instead of commanding we listen …
      • We are to show our HUMILITY – by being willing to SUBMIT others…
      • We wear our HUMILITY as the MARK that we are SLAVES for CHRIST!
      • Romans 6:22 – “Having been set free from sin [we have] become slaves of God…”
  • 2^nd – God resists the proud… vs. 5
    • God resists the proud – but gives grace to the humble – Proverbs 3:34
      • Why is it so important to live HUMBLY – because God RESISTS the PROUD…
      • RESISTS [ἀντιτάσσω] – 5x in NT – to set up for battle – prepare for war…
      • If God is preparing to go to WAR with us – we are in TROUBLE – and will SUFFER!
      • Therefore – it is incredibly important that we are NOT prideful!
      • PRIDE can be tricky – it is not always easy to see – but it always sets us up for a fall…
      • PRIDE can be – I think I know it all – I am never wrong – I do not need correction…
      • PRIDE can also be – thinking I am nothing – being shy…
      • Whether it is arrogance – or false humility – if I am the focus it is PRIDE …
      • If I am the focus – then I am not looking to Jesus – and SUFFERING is sure to follow!
    • God does NOT reject us if we have PRIDE…
      • Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction – an arrogant spirit before a fall.”
      • DESTRUCTION [שָׁבַר] – comes from the root verb to be BROKEN…
      • FALL – from the root verb [כָּשַׁל] meaning to be weak legged – unable to stand…
      • The picture is encouraging – our PRIDE and ARROGANCE have the cumulative effect…
      • They BREAK us and teach us that we cannot STAND on our own…
      • Our SUFFERING causes us to be HUMBLE – so we can receive the Grace of God!
      • GRACE [χάρις] – 156x in the NT – used a LOT meaning it is important!
      • Many Christians are under the DECEPTION they can live a good life on their own…
      • ASSUMING the more they read their Bible – go to church – the more God will LOVE them…
      • Thinking the more they do for God – the more they will grow in God!
      • WE are not the source of STRENGTH – we do not have the POWER change our lives…
      • It is when we are HUMBLED – and realize we NEED Jesus – when we find His GRACE…
      • Then God gets a hold of our lives – He changes our heart – and we are TRANSFORMED!
  • 3^rd – Cast our cares… vs. 6-7
    • Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God – that He may exalt you in due time!
      • THEREFORE – in light of the promise of GRACE to those who are HUMBLE…
      • We must HUMBLE [imperative] ourselves under the MIGHTY hand of God…
      • So that He might [subjunctive] lift us up [exalt] in DUE time…
      • The phrase MIGHTY hand appears in one other place in the Bible!
      • Psalm 136:12 – “[He] brought out Israel… With a strong hand [same word LXX]”
      • The context is how God saved the children of Israel from their SUFFERING in Egypt…
      • I am sure Israel looked at their SUFFERING – and had NO hope…
      • But God was MORE than able to save His people with His MIGHTY hand…
      • The Red Sea looked at God – and trembled – it was a tool in the hands of God!
      • Psalm 77: 16,19 – “When the Red Sea saw you – O God – its waters looked and trembled! Your road led through the sea – your pathway through the mighty waters – a pathway no one knew was there!”
      • Often we look at our PROBLEMS in life – and we tremble in FEAR…
      • Yet our problems look at the Lord – and they tremble at the sight of Him…
      • He parts the ocean of our difficulties – His MIGHTY hand lifts us up!
    • Casting all your care upon Him – for He cares for you!
      • CARE [μέριμνα] – 6x NT – can also be translated as ANXIETY…
      • Since the MIGHTY hand of God can part oceans – cast all our ANXIETY on Him…
      • Jesus will take care of ALL our WORRIES – because He cares for us – Luke 12:29-31
      • WORRY is the opposite of TRUST – we are worried because we are NOT trusting in God…
      • Instead of WORRYING – we should cast our PROBLEMS at the feet of Jesus!
      • Like little kids NEVER question if their parents are going to be there for them…
      • They have perfect TRUST in their parents to take CARE of their needs!
      • We may not know HOW God is going to handle the PROBLEM we are facing…
      • We have PEACE – knowing He CARES for us – and is going to take care of it!

• 2^nd – Because of our enemy… vs. 8-9
  • 1^st – Our Enemy… vs. 8
    • Be sober – be vigilant – your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion!
      • The second place SUFFERING can come from is our ENEMY…
      • We are COMMANDED [imperative] to be SOBER [νήφω] – to be CALM not reactive…
      • And [imperative] VIGILANT [γρηγορέω] – to be cautious – give strict attention…
      • Because we have an ENEMY who would love nothing more than to DESTROY us…
      • We are given THREE terms to describe just who our ENEMY is!
    • ADVERSARY [ἀντίδικος] – 5x NT – a legal term…
      • It speaks of someone who is opposed to us – wants to prosecute us in a court of law!
      • Revelation 12:10 – “The accuser… who accuses [us] before our God day and night…”
      • Picture a courtroom – we are on trial for you sins – God is the judge…
      • Satan is ACCUSING us – he wants to see us condemned to hell …
      • He has all the EVIDENCE he needs – all our SINS – a long list of failures…
      • But Jesus is our DEFENDER – He comes to our rescue – He points out one simple fact…
      • All our SINS were PAID for in full on the cross – we are found NOT guilty!
    • DEVIL [διάβολος] – 38x NT – someone who spreads gossip…
      • Satan is the FALSE accuser – makes up stories about us – because he is a liar – John 8:44
      • NOTHING that the devil says is true – everything that comes from him is a LIE…
      • He LIES and tells us SIN is fun – tries to get us hooked like a drug dealer…
      • He LIES and tells us once we have sinned – we cannot go back to God!
    • LION – constantly [present] seeking whom he may devour…
      • The picture is of a ravenous bloodthirsty beast desperately looking for prey…
      • Satan is determined to DEVOUR us – DESTROY our lives!
      • Satan would love nothing more than to keep us from following God…
      • But with God on our side there is nothing he can do to us – Romans 8:31
      • When we HUMBLY depend on Jesus – satan is no LION – he is a little bleating goat!
      • I John 4:4 – “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
      • He is like a lion without teeth – bark worse than bite…
      • Yet Satan is smart – he knows he cannot DIRECTLY attack the children of God…
      • Instead he tries to get us to COMPROMISE our walk with the Lord…
      • If satan can trip us up with SIN – he can get us to walk AWAY from the protection of God…
      • SUFFERING keeps us CLOSE to God – FAR from SIN – and SAFE from the attacks of satan!
  • 2^nd – Resist the devil… vs. 9
    • Resist him – steadfast in the faith!
      • RESIST [ἀνθίστημι] – we are COMMANDED [imperative] to OPPOSE the devil… 
      • It should come as no surprise – when we STAND up for Jesus – we are a TARGET!
      • Luke 22:31 – “Simon – Satan has asked to have all of you – to sift you like wheat.”
      • I imagine those were VERY unsettling words to hear – satan KNOWS my name…
      • But make no mistake – if we STAND up for Jesus – satan KNOWS who we are…
      • And he will come TEST us – try us – to see what we are made of!
    • Steadfast in THE faith…
      • STEADFAST [στερεός] – used 4x NT – means to be immovable…
      • Satan can do nothing to us as we are IMMOVABLE in our FAITH in Christ!
      • Satan tried THREE times to TEMP Jesus – food – compromise – fame – Luke 4
      • Every time Jesus response to satan was to quote from the Word of God!
      • As Jesus resisted the temptations through the WORD – satan had to flee!
      • The key to standing against satan is the Word of God…
      • He is powerless when we come against him with the power of the WORD!
      • Ephesians 6:12-13 – “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood – but against principalities – against powers… Therefore take up the whole armor of God – that you may be able to withstand in the evil day – and having done all – to stand.”
    • What we KNOW…
      • Knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world!
      • The same SUFFERING is being experienced by our brothers all over the world…
      • In other words – we are not alone – being attacked by satan is the norm!
      • During the 20^th century – there were 26 million documented cases of martyrs…. 
      • Turkey was not always a country with relatively few Christians…
      • Less than one hundred years ago Turkey [Ottoman] was about 30% Christian…
      • That changed when 2 million Armenian Christians were massacred between 1905 -1918!
      • The Gospel is NOT a message of an easy life – it is all about perspective…
      • If we think SUFFERING is something unusual – we WILL struggle in our walk with Christ…
      • But we are NOT alone – every Christian must go through SUFFERING!
      • I Corinthians 10:13 – “No [trial] has overtaken you except such as is common to man!”

• 3^rd – Because of impatience… vs. 10-11
  • 1^st – For a moment… vs. 10
    • May the God of all grace – who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus!
      • We must NEVER forget that we have a God who has CALLED [passive] us…
      • YES – we need to be HUMBLE – because God resist the PROUD…
      • YES – we have an ENEMY – that we must RESIST…
      • BUT – He is source of all GRACE – that He gives us as we LEARN to depend on Him…
      • AND – He desires to bring us into His eternal glory – He wants us in heaven forever!
    • AFTER we have Suffered for a while!
      • WHILE [ὀλίγος] – 42x NT – means SHORT or FEW…
      • We do not have to SUFFER for a long time – 80 years at most…
      • But we tend to be IMPATIENT – and forget the life is SHORT – eternity is the point!
      • Psalm 90:10 – “Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and [Suffering]. Soon they disappear – and we fly away…”
  • 2^nd – Results of SUFFERING… vs. 10-11
    • FOUR results from our short SUFFERING…
      • All FOUR results are in the OPTATIVE – Peter is HOPING they will happen…
      • The question is – will patiently SUFFER for a while – and allow it to happen so we can be:
    • 1 – PERFECT [καταρτίζω] –13x NT – to repair what is broken
      • Galatians 6:1 – “If a man is overtaken in [sin] …restore [same word] such a one…”
      • When we come to Jesus we are BROKEN – full of the ideas and wisdom of the world…
      • It takes SUFFERING to mend us – remake us into Godly men and women who live for Jesus!
    • 2 – ESTABLISH [στηρίζω] – where we get the word steroids – STRENGTHEN our SPIRIT
    • 3- STRENGTHEN [σθενόω] – only here NT – to give STRENGTH to our SOUL [mind]
    • 4 – SETTLE [θεμελιόω] – 6x NT – to lay a good foundation
      • When SUFFERING has mended us – and strengthened us in spirit – and in mind…
      • We will find out that we have a solid FOUNDATION in Jesus Christ!
      • Matthew 7:24-25 – “Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise – like a person who builds a house on solid rock. The rain descended… and the winds blew and beat on that house – and it did not fall – for it was founded [θεμελιόω] on the rock.”
      • The wisdom of this world provides a very unstable FOUNDATION for our lives…
      • It is much better to be ESTABLISHED on the unchanging FOUNDATION of Jesus!
    • To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen!

Ephesians 2:14 – “For [Jesus] Himself is our peace…”

4^th – Final greetings… vs. 12-14

1^st – Silvanus… vs. 12

By Silvanus – our faithful brother as I consider him – I have written to you briefly…

Exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

Peter closes his BRIEF [ὀλίγος] letter that he wrote by stating the PURPOSE…

He concludes the book within the same way that he opened up the book…

EXHORTING [parakaleō] – to come along side to HELP…

TESTIFYING [ἐπιμαρτυρέω] – to share a personal TESTIMONY

About the true GRACE of God in which we STAND!

SILVANUS – or Silas – who wrote down the words for Peter…

The same Silas who accompanies Paul on his SECOND missionary journey – Acts 15:40

He was also the secretary of Peter – he wrote the letter while Peter dictated it…

I Peter is written very well – scholarly in classic Greek…

Yet Peter was a simple fisherman – so apparently Silas helped out!

2^nd – Church in Babylon… vs. 13

[the church] in Babylon – elect together with you – greets you!

There is some uncertainly as to which Babylon Peter is referring to…

The city of Babylon in Macedonia – on the Euphrates River – modern day Iraq…

Or Babylon could have been a code name for the city of Rome…

Peter may have called Rome Babylon to try and avoid persecution for the church there…

Although we have no record in the Bible of Peter going to Rome – it is in church tradition!

3^rd – Mark my son… vs. 13

This is John Mark – the cousin of Barnabas – Colossians 4:10

Apparently – Mark was converted by the apostle Peter – son in the FAITH…

Mark was not a direct disciple of Jesus Christ – but he wrote the Gospel of Mark…

Mark was the traveling companion of Paul- on the FIRST missionary journey – Acts 13:5

But he left Paul and Barnabas before the trip ended – Acts 13:13

Barnabas wanted to take Mark on the SECOND trip – but Paul refused – Acts 15:36-38

Their disagreement was so sharp that Paul and Barnabas parted company!

We do not hear of Mark again until the imprisonment of Paul [many years later]

When Paul asked for Mark because – he is useful for me to ministry – II Timothy 4:11

4^th – Greet one another… vs. 14

Greet one another with a kiss of love!

We are COMMANDED [imperative] to GREET – receive someone with JOY…

KISS [φίλημα] – from the root word [φιλέω] – brotherly love…

LOVE– we greet each other with brother and GODLY [ἀγάπη] love!

In Israel it is still a custom to great one another with a kiss on the cheek…

It was meant to be a sign of the love within the church – a since of family!

5^th – Peace… vs. 14

Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen!

We all will go through SUFFERING in this life – it is a GUARANTEE…

But we can also have PEACE in this life – when we are in Jesus…

PEACE [εἰρήνη] – because we know who is in control – and He is on our side!