1 Peter 5:5 – 11
Pastor Ben Fleming
July 27, 2008
The Character of Sheep
This is our 18th and last message from
1 Peter. Next week we are going to start studying the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis……. Last week we saw Peter addressing the character of the shepherd. Spiritual shepherds are to be examples to God’s people. They are to point God’s people to Christ and the #1 calling of a shepherd is to preach and teach God’s Word to God’s people. Jesus said it to Peter when He told Peter “feed My sheep” and Paul said it to Timothy, “preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.”….. The character of the shepherd –
Now for the sheep. The magazines Newsweek and Time both have had Obama and McCain on their covers .. focusing on the character of each person – who they are – what is their character – what do they believe --- for some reason we still think character matters in our political world….
In God’s world character matters with His sheep. God cares about the character of the sheep that are in His sheep fold. He cares about how they act and how they treat one another – He cares about how they respond when there is danger and temptation……in God’s economy you cannot be one of His sheep and not grow and develop and mature in how you treat and respond to the other sheep around you.
Today – Peter is closing his letter to the churches – he is closing his letter to the elect --------- “to those who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God” ----- by addressing them about their character and how their character must grow and mature. In our text, we are going to see Peter hammer home on 5 character qualities believers must grow and mature in.
1 Peter 5:5 - 14 5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”£ 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12With the help of Silas,£ whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. PRAY
1. Believers must grow in submission. (vs. 5a) “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.” When Peter uses the words “in the same way” – he is shifting his focus from one group to another group --- he is shifting from the elders or leaders of the flock to the flock itself. Shepherds submit to the chief Shepherd (JESUS)… and now the flock must submit to its shepherds or leaders – the older spiritually mature men. Submission is a character quality that we see all throughout the New Testament. If a believer is maturing ------- if a believer is growing to become more like Jesus they are in the pursuit of reflecting and living a submissive lifestyle.
It does not matter how educated or how spiritually verbal they are--- God’s children in His flock must pursue a character of submission….. When we talk about submission in the church we generally think of wives submitting to their husbands – that is only part of it. The opposite of submission is rebellion and to be very direct with you – which most of you know I am – the church of America generally does not reflect and live a submissive lifestyle. The church in America is generally rebellious. I see that in you and I see that in myself.
Submit = to line up under. Peter says that the younger men must submit to the elders. They are to submit to older mature godly men….. it means that they are to learn from the older men – they are to spend time with the older men and hang around with them. You do not find that much in the church today -- the younger men are generally not in church and if they are they are looking for girls. Most young men would have nothing to do with older men. So, why should a young man submit to an older man in his church??? Think about it… Because if he does --- perhaps he will make fewer mistakes and mess ups and perhaps God knew that young men will one day be the elders of tomorrow? The NT church was full of this example of submission.
1 Corinthians 16:15 - 17 “You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 17I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12 -13 “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” ------ a submissive spirit
Application: Ask yourself --- in what area of your life are you rebellious?????
2. Believers must grow in humility. (vs. 5b - 6) “ All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward 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.” Linked right to the character of submission is the character of humility. You cannot be humble and not be submissive…. You cannot be submissive and not be humble. Peter says to clothe yourself with humility - I brought this apron with me from home – no I am not going to cook something -------the word Peter used literally meant to tie something on oneself like a work apron worn by a servant….. Humility is an act. You demonstrate humility through service to your church family….. You live out humility in the body of Christ. You just do not sit there silent and say nothing and think that you are demonstrating humility by your silence and inactivity. The opposite of humility is pride. Pride and especially spiritual pride is perhaps the worst of sins in God’s eyes. Pride keeps the character of sheep from growing. Pride stops spiritual maturity.
If the foundational character in spiritual growth is submission… humility is, then, the footing to which the foundation is anchored. When God’s sheep become proudly rebellious, fight against the Lord’s purposes or judge God as unkind or unfair, they forfeit the grace of God in their lives. ---- how can you demonstrate humility??
Application
* Confess to another sheep. When you confess your sin to another believer in your church family you are humbling yourself. It is humbling to confess your sin to another believer ---- it is not always true humility to confess your sin quietly and privately to God. If you do not confess your sin sometime to another believer you have a problem with pride in your life.
* Serve other sheep. Listen to someone else in your church family, learn to ask them questions about themselves. Stop talking and telling your own stories for once. Find someone you do not know and who does not know you……… When Peter said to clothe yourself with humility he was most likely thinking about when Jesus washed the disciples feet. It is humbling to serve the body of Christ. It is humbling to serve and not expect any thank you or recognition….. Look what Peter says --- humble yourself under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Those who serve…….. – God is the one who brings thanks and blessing to them. God’s sees the service of His children to other children in the flock of God. God is watching those who give and God is watching those who are simply takers…..
* Do not be offended by other sheep. Sheep will insult sheep. Sheep will offend sheep. If you are in the flock of God and if you care to associate or know other sheep in that flock – I guarantee you – at one time you are going to run into a situation where you are either going to be humble and forgiving to other sheep or you are going to be insulted and offended. --------- how is the character of humility growing in your life??????
3. Believers must grow in trust (vs. 7) “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” ……. When you begin to learn submission and humility you will find that when the trials and testing come your way you will grow in trusting God and His purposes. Peter knows that God’s people will have problems –……. God’s people will be abused and used and suffer…… If they are humble and submissive they will find the character of trust easier to grab hold of in their lives…… Peter says to cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you. Paul says in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God.”.. Peter did not steal these words from Paul – he was thinking about the words of King David on your outline Ps 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
Both in the Hebrew and the Greek --- the word used here to cast meant to throw something on someone or something else. In Luke 19 – it was used of throwing a blanket on an animal. – so if I am growing in the character of trust --- I am learning to throw my anxiety on the Lord. It does not meant that I do not deal with it and wrestle with anxiety it means that I am learning to throw it on God. Your anxiety can include discontentment – discouragement – despair – questioning – pain – suffering or any trial that you are suffering or face in your life. You begin to TRUST GOD as you mature and grow spiritually because you have learned to trust His love – His faithfulness – His power and His wisdom. Submission – Humility and Trust – are you starting to see any of those three character qualities on your wool?????
Application: What one thing in your life do you need to trust God with right now? ________________________________________________________________
4. Believers must grow in self control and vigilance (vs. 8) “Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
The believer will begin to the character of self control when they are walking in the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit in your life produces self control. Most of the time we might think of self control in relation to intoxication or gluttony but here it is used more in a metaphorical sense that refers to the ordering and balancing of ones life and the issues of life that require one to have a discipline of mind and body….. This character quality of self control is necessary in our lives because it will cause us to be alert spiritually. Believers are to be awake and alert because there are many spiritual forces attacking believers.
Peter puts it very clearly -- “you enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.” The devil is looking and scheming to attack believers in churches --- he is looking to attack Christian marriages ---- he looking to attack Christian teenagers and Christian singles --- he is looking to attack Christian pastors.
Growth in spiritual maturity in a believers life is seen when they are awake and sober - on their guard against the attacks of the devil. Think about it……. Why is this command in the bible?? God’s people are naturally not self controlled and alert --- they do not believe that the devil is real and out to defeat them. If that was not the case – you would not find so many divorcees in the church --- you would not find so many believers hoping from church to church and so many believers living rebellious – independent - impotent and defeated Christian lives.
Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, the spirit is willing but the body is weak.” Why do believers fall into and give into temptation? The command of Jesus tells you why – they do not watch and they do not pray.
The apostle James put it this way in James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Where do you get the power to resist Satan in your life? From the Holy Spirit. When you grow in submission – when you grow in humility and when you grow in trusting God you will experience and demonstrate self control and vigilance in your life.
Application: Where do you need to see more self control in your life today? ______________
5. Believers must grow in spiritual fortitude (vs. 9) “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Peter now says that believers must have a mind that is going to resist Satan by standing firm in their faith. You do not resist Satan by yelling at Him ---- you do not resist Satan by reading a spiritual book or listening to music or saying nice positive chants. The bible clearly says that the believer resists Satan by standing firm in their faith. When you do – the bible says he will flee from you.
How do you stand firm in your faith? As a believer in Jesus Christ - you stand firm in biblical revelation. That means you stand firm in the truth that is contained in the Bible. Look what Hebrews says about the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. “ Read Matthew 4 – every time the devil attacked and tempted Jesus – Jesus responded to the devil with the Word of God – He said – it is written and then quoted scripture over and over and over again. If Jesus stood firm against the devil with the Word of God what makes a believer today think they can use something else and be victorious over the devil? How can you build spiritual fortitude in your life? Is there anybody here who wants to be victorious over temptation and the attacks of the devil in your life?
Application:
1. Know the truth. Read the bible. Get into the habit of a devotion. Learn the bible address of where something is in the bible. Resist Satan and stand firm in your faith.
2. Obey the truth. It is one thing to read the bible and it is another thing to obey the truth that you know. James 4: 17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
Summary: We look for shortcuts in life…….but there are no shortcuts to experiencing and living out the godly character qualities that Peter has outlined for us. These character qualities will only be perfected in our lives as we regularly and faithfully place ourselves under the preaching, teaching and study of God’s truth and obediently allow His Word to change our hearts and shape our character. 2x
Pastor Ben Fleming
July 27, 2008
The Character of Sheep
This is our 18th and last message from
1 Peter. Next week we are going to start studying the life of Joseph in the book of Genesis……. Last week we saw Peter addressing the character of the shepherd. Spiritual shepherds are to be examples to God’s people. They are to point God’s people to Christ and the #1 calling of a shepherd is to preach and teach God’s Word to God’s people. Jesus said it to Peter when He told Peter “feed My sheep” and Paul said it to Timothy, “preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season, correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.”….. The character of the shepherd –
Now for the sheep. The magazines Newsweek and Time both have had Obama and McCain on their covers .. focusing on the character of each person – who they are – what is their character – what do they believe --- for some reason we still think character matters in our political world….
In God’s world character matters with His sheep. God cares about the character of the sheep that are in His sheep fold. He cares about how they act and how they treat one another – He cares about how they respond when there is danger and temptation……in God’s economy you cannot be one of His sheep and not grow and develop and mature in how you treat and respond to the other sheep around you.
Today – Peter is closing his letter to the churches – he is closing his letter to the elect --------- “to those who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God” ----- by addressing them about their character and how their character must grow and mature. In our text, we are going to see Peter hammer home on 5 character qualities believers must grow and mature in.
1 Peter 5:5 - 14 5Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”£ 6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12With the help of Silas,£ whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. PRAY
1. Believers must grow in submission. (vs. 5a) “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older.” When Peter uses the words “in the same way” – he is shifting his focus from one group to another group --- he is shifting from the elders or leaders of the flock to the flock itself. Shepherds submit to the chief Shepherd (JESUS)… and now the flock must submit to its shepherds or leaders – the older spiritually mature men. Submission is a character quality that we see all throughout the New Testament. If a believer is maturing ------- if a believer is growing to become more like Jesus they are in the pursuit of reflecting and living a submissive lifestyle.
It does not matter how educated or how spiritually verbal they are--- God’s children in His flock must pursue a character of submission….. When we talk about submission in the church we generally think of wives submitting to their husbands – that is only part of it. The opposite of submission is rebellion and to be very direct with you – which most of you know I am – the church of America generally does not reflect and live a submissive lifestyle. The church in America is generally rebellious. I see that in you and I see that in myself.
Submit = to line up under. Peter says that the younger men must submit to the elders. They are to submit to older mature godly men….. it means that they are to learn from the older men – they are to spend time with the older men and hang around with them. You do not find that much in the church today -- the younger men are generally not in church and if they are they are looking for girls. Most young men would have nothing to do with older men. So, why should a young man submit to an older man in his church??? Think about it… Because if he does --- perhaps he will make fewer mistakes and mess ups and perhaps God knew that young men will one day be the elders of tomorrow? The NT church was full of this example of submission.
1 Corinthians 16:15 - 17 “You know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints. I urge you, brothers, 16to submit to such as these and to everyone who joins in the work, and labors at it. 17I was glad when Stephanas, Fortunatus and Achaicus arrived, because they have supplied what was lacking from you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:12 -13 “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” ------ a submissive spirit
Application: Ask yourself --- in what area of your life are you rebellious?????
2. Believers must grow in humility. (vs. 5b - 6) “ All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward 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.” Linked right to the character of submission is the character of humility. You cannot be humble and not be submissive…. You cannot be submissive and not be humble. Peter says to clothe yourself with humility - I brought this apron with me from home – no I am not going to cook something -------the word Peter used literally meant to tie something on oneself like a work apron worn by a servant….. Humility is an act. You demonstrate humility through service to your church family….. You live out humility in the body of Christ. You just do not sit there silent and say nothing and think that you are demonstrating humility by your silence and inactivity. The opposite of humility is pride. Pride and especially spiritual pride is perhaps the worst of sins in God’s eyes. Pride keeps the character of sheep from growing. Pride stops spiritual maturity.
If the foundational character in spiritual growth is submission… humility is, then, the footing to which the foundation is anchored. When God’s sheep become proudly rebellious, fight against the Lord’s purposes or judge God as unkind or unfair, they forfeit the grace of God in their lives. ---- how can you demonstrate humility??
Application
* Confess to another sheep. When you confess your sin to another believer in your church family you are humbling yourself. It is humbling to confess your sin to another believer ---- it is not always true humility to confess your sin quietly and privately to God. If you do not confess your sin sometime to another believer you have a problem with pride in your life.
* Serve other sheep. Listen to someone else in your church family, learn to ask them questions about themselves. Stop talking and telling your own stories for once. Find someone you do not know and who does not know you……… When Peter said to clothe yourself with humility he was most likely thinking about when Jesus washed the disciples feet. It is humbling to serve the body of Christ. It is humbling to serve and not expect any thank you or recognition….. Look what Peter says --- humble yourself under God’s mighty hand that He may lift you up in due time. Those who serve…….. – God is the one who brings thanks and blessing to them. God’s sees the service of His children to other children in the flock of God. God is watching those who give and God is watching those who are simply takers…..
* Do not be offended by other sheep. Sheep will insult sheep. Sheep will offend sheep. If you are in the flock of God and if you care to associate or know other sheep in that flock – I guarantee you – at one time you are going to run into a situation where you are either going to be humble and forgiving to other sheep or you are going to be insulted and offended. --------- how is the character of humility growing in your life??????
3. Believers must grow in trust (vs. 7) “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” ……. When you begin to learn submission and humility you will find that when the trials and testing come your way you will grow in trusting God and His purposes. Peter knows that God’s people will have problems –……. God’s people will be abused and used and suffer…… If they are humble and submissive they will find the character of trust easier to grab hold of in their lives…… Peter says to cast all your anxiety on God because He cares for you. Paul says in Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything with prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your request to God.”.. Peter did not steal these words from Paul – he was thinking about the words of King David on your outline Ps 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
Both in the Hebrew and the Greek --- the word used here to cast meant to throw something on someone or something else. In Luke 19 – it was used of throwing a blanket on an animal. – so if I am growing in the character of trust --- I am learning to throw my anxiety on the Lord. It does not meant that I do not deal with it and wrestle with anxiety it means that I am learning to throw it on God. Your anxiety can include discontentment – discouragement – despair – questioning – pain – suffering or any trial that you are suffering or face in your life. You begin to TRUST GOD as you mature and grow spiritually because you have learned to trust His love – His faithfulness – His power and His wisdom. Submission – Humility and Trust – are you starting to see any of those three character qualities on your wool?????
Application: What one thing in your life do you need to trust God with right now? ________________________________________________________________
4. Believers must grow in self control and vigilance (vs. 8) “Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
The believer will begin to the character of self control when they are walking in the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit in your life produces self control. Most of the time we might think of self control in relation to intoxication or gluttony but here it is used more in a metaphorical sense that refers to the ordering and balancing of ones life and the issues of life that require one to have a discipline of mind and body….. This character quality of self control is necessary in our lives because it will cause us to be alert spiritually. Believers are to be awake and alert because there are many spiritual forces attacking believers.
Peter puts it very clearly -- “you enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.” The devil is looking and scheming to attack believers in churches --- he is looking to attack Christian marriages ---- he looking to attack Christian teenagers and Christian singles --- he is looking to attack Christian pastors.
Growth in spiritual maturity in a believers life is seen when they are awake and sober - on their guard against the attacks of the devil. Think about it……. Why is this command in the bible?? God’s people are naturally not self controlled and alert --- they do not believe that the devil is real and out to defeat them. If that was not the case – you would not find so many divorcees in the church --- you would not find so many believers hoping from church to church and so many believers living rebellious – independent - impotent and defeated Christian lives.
Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, the spirit is willing but the body is weak.” Why do believers fall into and give into temptation? The command of Jesus tells you why – they do not watch and they do not pray.
The apostle James put it this way in James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” Where do you get the power to resist Satan in your life? From the Holy Spirit. When you grow in submission – when you grow in humility and when you grow in trusting God you will experience and demonstrate self control and vigilance in your life.
Application: Where do you need to see more self control in your life today? ______________
5. Believers must grow in spiritual fortitude (vs. 9) “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” Peter now says that believers must have a mind that is going to resist Satan by standing firm in their faith. You do not resist Satan by yelling at Him ---- you do not resist Satan by reading a spiritual book or listening to music or saying nice positive chants. The bible clearly says that the believer resists Satan by standing firm in their faith. When you do – the bible says he will flee from you.
How do you stand firm in your faith? As a believer in Jesus Christ - you stand firm in biblical revelation. That means you stand firm in the truth that is contained in the Bible. Look what Hebrews says about the Word of God.
Hebrews 4:12 12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. “ Read Matthew 4 – every time the devil attacked and tempted Jesus – Jesus responded to the devil with the Word of God – He said – it is written and then quoted scripture over and over and over again. If Jesus stood firm against the devil with the Word of God what makes a believer today think they can use something else and be victorious over the devil? How can you build spiritual fortitude in your life? Is there anybody here who wants to be victorious over temptation and the attacks of the devil in your life?
Application:
1. Know the truth. Read the bible. Get into the habit of a devotion. Learn the bible address of where something is in the bible. Resist Satan and stand firm in your faith.
2. Obey the truth. It is one thing to read the bible and it is another thing to obey the truth that you know. James 4: 17 “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.”
Summary: We look for shortcuts in life…….but there are no shortcuts to experiencing and living out the godly character qualities that Peter has outlined for us. These character qualities will only be perfected in our lives as we regularly and faithfully place ourselves under the preaching, teaching and study of God’s truth and obediently allow His Word to change our hearts and shape our character. 2x
