These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
I Peter 5:5-14
Review…
- Grace for SUFFERING…
- 1 – It is the WILL of God to SUFFER – for going GOOD – I Peter 3:13-22
- 2 – We must have the right MIND to SUFFER – I Peter 4:1-11
- 3 – We were also told not to be SURPRISED by SUFFERING – I Peter 4:12-19
- 4 – HELP in our SUFFERING – I Peter 5:1-4
- PASTORS – are to come along side those who SUFFERING…
- What a PASTOR is COMMANDED to – SHEPHERD the flock – feed the people the God the Word…
- A PASTOR – PROTECTS – keeps the church safe…
- A PASTOR – SERVES – they are NOT to LORD over those entrusted to them…
- A PASTOR – is an EXAMPLE – follow them as they follow Christ – I Corinthians 11:1
Source of suffering…
- 1st – Because of pride… vs. 5-7
- 1st – 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…”
- 2nd – 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!
- 3rd – 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!
- 1st – Clothed with humility… vs. 5
- 2nd – Because of our enemy… vs. 8-9
- 1st – 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!
- 2nd – 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 20th 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!”
- 1st – Our Enemy… vs. 8
- 3rd – Because of impatience… vs. 10-11
- 1st – 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…”
- 2nd – 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!
- 1st – For a moment… vs. 10
- 4th – Final greetings… vs. 12-14
- 1st – 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!
- 2nd – 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!
- 3rd – 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
- 4th – 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!
- 5th – 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!
- Ephesians 2:14 – “For [Jesus] Himself is our peace…”
- 1st – Silvanus… vs. 12