INTERNET BIBLE STUDIES I Peter Lesson 5
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I Peter Chapter 5

Memory verses for this week:  Gen 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

 

Introduction:  In Chapter 4, Peter warned that as we live for Christ, we would face trials and persecution.    But by God’s grace, we can face whatever comes our way.  Jesus paid a dear price for our salvation, and we found that we are not greater than our Lord.  If he suffered, we should not be surprised if the world turns against us.

I.  Advice to the Elders (Preachers)

1 Pet 5:1  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1 Pet 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Peter gives some directions as to how the shepherds should manage their flock.  This is of course directions to the pastors, the under shepherds of Christ’s churches.   It is the Holy Spirit is the one who sets the pastor over the flock, and in so doing, guides the pastor in how to lead the church.  If you are in a church that follows the example of the church Jesus setup in his personal ministry, then your headquarters is in heaven itself.   There is one Great Shepherd, and that is Jesus Christ.   If Christ is not the head of your church, something is wrong.

Acts 20:28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

Heb 13:7  Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

The pastor has the responsibility of watching over the souls of believers.   Those in his particular church are his responsibility, and he will have to give an answer to the Lord for how he dealed with each one.   Peter in verse 1 identifies himself with the elders of the church.   Peter was never called a pope, yet he was in charge of a church.  In today’s world, man has added more offices and names than we have record of in the Word of God.   We are not to look to man for design of the church, but to the Bible and follow the example set there. 

The pastor is to take the oversight of the church.  If a man takes a church due to any other reason than being led by the Holy Spirit, he is wrong.  Some do this because some man or board appointed them to the position, others do it due to the money or the size of the congregation.   If God is not in it, the man of God should not be the pastor of the church.  Both he and the congregation should be in agreement that the Lord is leading them to that position.

In verse 2, the pastor is exhorted to feed the people (the flock) which are among you.   This admonition is to feed the people by ministering the truth and purity of God’s Holy Word.  In many pulpits today, you won’t hear the Word of God proclaimed.   There may be nice reviews of popular books, or an excellent demonstration of psychology, but that is not the pastor’s job.  He is to proclaim the whole word of God.   Paul told those in Philippi that he had held forth the word of life, and urged them to do likewise.

Phil 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Phil 2:14  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

Phil 2:15  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Phil 2:16  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Phil 2:17  Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

Phil 2:18  For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

He told young Timothy to preach the Word, and to know what he believed.  All of us should be able to defend the faith, and backup what we believe based upon scripture.

2 Tim 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Tim 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2 Tim 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Tim 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Tim 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

When Jesus was dealing with Simon Peter, he told him three times to feed the lambs.  Lambs have reference to newly born Christians.

John 21:15  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

John 21:16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

John 21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Those who have been saved for a period of time and taught the word, are more mature and they can begin to take on the meat of the word.   We were watching our 4 month old granddaughter Katherine yesterday, and Denise fed her some cereal for the first time.  She was happy at first, and then she started to try and push it back out with her tongue.  All she had ever had was milk, and this seemed strange.   But we have to grow spiritually just as that little girl is growing physically.  It is a sad thing to see a  60 or 70 year old babe in Christ, particularly those who may have 40 or more years in church after being saved.  God expects us to continue to grow in His Word.  Applied knowledge from God’s Word will result in wisdom.

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

Heb 5:13  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

Heb 5:14  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

1 Pet 5:3  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

1 Pet 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

The pastor is to take the oversight of the church.  He is not to be a lord or king of the church, but he is to set an example that others can follow.   We have had a lot of people discouraged due to the actions of some preachers who have went the way of the world rather than staying with God’s plan.   And as we read last week, if we think we are strong, we had best be careful, because the strongest can be toppled by sin if not for God’s grace.   TAKE HEED was the admonition.  Satan knows our weaknesses, and if he can take down a pastor, he has succeeded in disrupting God’s plan in the church.   The church is to follow the lead of the pastor, and he is to follow the directions that God gives to him.  Only the pastor of the local church can know what the church is in greatest need of, and can direct the studies and messages in such a way as to build it up and strengthen it.   How can some board in a far off city know what your local church needs.   God directs these decisions to be made by the pastor.  And it says in Verse 4, that when the chief Shepherd appears, the pastor will receive a crown of glory that will not fade away.

In I Timothy, we are told that the good minister is the one who puts the brethren in remembrance of the things of God.   He is to preach and teach the Whole Word of God.

1 Tim 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

1 Tim 4:2  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

1 Tim 4:3  Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

1 Tim 4:4  For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

1 Tim 4:5  For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

1 Tim 4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

 

J. Vernon McGee had some good points about the crown of glory promised to the pastor.

An elder’s ministry should be done with the proper awareness that he serves the Chief Shepherd to whom he is answerable and who will Himself reward his service with rewards which are eternal. Don’t get the impression that we are working for nothing. We are not. Paul made it clear that a Christian is not to work for nothing. You are to work for Him and look to Him for a reward some day. That is the way we are to serve Him.

“Ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” There are many crowns mentioned in Scripture, including the crown of life and the crown of righteousness. What is a crown of glory? I believe that it means we are going to share some day in His glory.

In a study I made many years ago, I found about a dozen different words in the Old Testament which were translated by the word glory. Glory is a word that is often used today. What do you understand by the word glory? How big is glory? What shape is it? What color it is? What is glory? I suspect that the average Christian would have nothing but the foggiest notion about the meaning of glory.

I have found that glory does have shape and size. Listen to the Word of God: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork” (Ps.19:1). The size of the universe, as determined by our scientific measurements, is staggering yet is probably only the front yard of God’s great universe. That is glory—the greatness of our God.

What about the color of glory? Look up at this vast universe at night; look up at the sky. And look at the earth. In the fall, especially if you live in New England, take a good look at the leaves on the trees. It is wonderful to be in that part of the country and to see all the color. That’s glory—the glory of God. I know a retired man who lives here in Southern California, and he raises some of the most beautiful roses and zinnias I have ever seen. Oh, are they colorful! One time while I was visiting him in his garden, he reached down and lifted up the head of one of those zinnias, and he said, “In the springtime I simply put a little seed in the ground. Look at what has come up! And then they try to tell me there is no God!” Glory has color, my friend.

May I say to you, God’s glory is something that is quite wonderful and we are going to share in that some day. He calls it a crown of glory.

Peter calls Him “the chief Shepherd” here. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep—that is seen in Psalm 22. The Great Shepherd watches over the sheep—that is seen in Psalm 23. In Psalm 24 He is the Chief Shepherd who is coming again. Some day our Chief Shepherd is going to appear, and He will still have with Him His flock, and we will be members of that flock. How wonderful this is!  [1]

II.  Some Advice for All

1 Pet 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Not many verses are as all encompassing as verse 5 when it says ALL OF YOU, be subject one to another.   All are to be humble.  God wants the church to be of one mind, and that to be the mind of Christ.  Minor issues should not deter us of our goal to put forth the Gospel.

Phil 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Phil 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Phil 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phil 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Phil 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

Phil 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Phil 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In verse 8 of the text there in Philippians Chapter 2, it speaks of Christ humbling himself.   We are told to be humble one towards one another, because God resists the proud.   In the parable about the Pharisee and the publican, we find that the humble man is the one that God gives much grace.

Luke 18:9  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

Luke 18:10  Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

Luke 18:11  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

Luke 18:12  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

Luke 18:13  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Luke 18:14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

1 Pet 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1 Pet 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

We have a great promise in verse 6.  It say if we will humble ourselves to God, that he will exalt us in due time.    Man may give us positions of responsibility, but I’d much rather be exalted by God.  Things on earth are so temporal, but God is eternal and His Kingdom is eternal.   And we are instructed to place all our cares on Christ, for he cares for us.   In our study of Hebrews, we learned that Christ is touched by our infirmities, because he suffered in an earthly body and understands all that we go through.  We have a High Priest that cares and will help us in our hour of need.

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

I was discussing some of the struggles that we have been going through in my personal business with some of the bible study members.  And I told them all that I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.  Perhaps I won’t have all the wants in the upcoming years I want, but I have a promise from God that he will meet our needs.

Mat 6:25  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Mat 6:26  Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Mat 6:27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

Mat 6:28  And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

Mat 6:29  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

Mat 6:32  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

If God takes care of the birds and makes the lilies grow, should we doubt that God will take care of us?  Absolutely not.  If we put God first, do His will in our lives, be sure that He will take perfect care of us.  We are much more valuable than birds and flowers.

Albert Barnes made these comments about verse 6.

Humble yourselves therefore—Be willing to take a low place—a place such as becomes you. Do not arrogate to yourselves what does not belong to you; do not evince pride and haughtiness in your manner; do not exalt yourselves above others.

Under the mighty hand of God—This refers probably to the calamities which he had brought upon them, or was about to bring upon them; represented here, as often elsewhere, as the infliction of his hand—the hand being that by which we accomplish anything. When that hand was upon them they were not to be lifted up with pride and with a spirit of rebellion, but were to take a lowly place before him, and submit to him wish a calm mind, believing that he would exalt them in due time. There is no situation in which one will be more likely to feel humility than in scenes of affliction.

That he may exalt you in due time—When he shall see it to be a proper time:

(1)  They might be assured that this would be done at some time. He would not always leave them in this low and depressed condition. He would take off his heavy hand, and raise them up from their state of sadness and suffering.

(2)  this would be in due time; that is, in the proper time, in the best time:

(a)  It might be in the present life.

(b)  It would certainly be in the world to come. There they would be exalted to honors which will be more than an equivalent for all the persecution, poverty, and contempt which are suffered in this world. He may well afford to be humble here who is to be exalted to a throne in heaven.

 

III.  Warning about our Adversary

1 Pet 5:8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Pet 5:9  Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

If you miss everything else we say today, don’t miss verse 8.  Believe me, we have a serious enemy in Satan.  It says to be on guard because the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.    He wants to destroy us, but our souls are secure when we know Christ.  However, he can make this life a living nightmare here on earth.   And he can ruin our testimony if we give him a foothold in our lives.

2 Cor 2:11  Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

 

2 Cor 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

2 Cor 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

2 Cor 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

We are warned to not be ignorant of Satan’s devices or he will get an advantage over us.  And in those second set of verse from chapter 11, we see that Satan himself can be transformed into an angel of light.   Believe me, Satan has his men in some pulpits today.  Not everyone that says “Bless you brother and sister” are true Christians.  But we are warned to be wary and to test all things.  Those ministers led by Satan are those who deny the inspiration of God’s Word, those who preach works for salvation.  They deny the virgin birth of Christ.  Some deny that there is a hell.  Man’s philosophy is that there is some good in every person, and if we will just fan that flame of good that all will work out just right if we give people education and the right environment.  Without a new birth, you have a cleaned up lost soul.   I heard a preacher point out that when Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, they recognized they were naked and saw there undone condition and made them clothing from the plants and hid from God.  It is interesting that when God came and called them out, he took the skins of animals and made a proper covering for them.   He didn’t take the works they had done up to that point and improve upon it.  He threw away their incomplete aprons that were not good enough, and then God provided what they needed.  An animal had to die, there was a blood sacrifice before they could be covered.  The typification is perfect and clear.  Nothing in man will justify us before God.  Only the perfect sin offering will accomplish our salvation, and that is to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. 

1 Pet 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1 Pet 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Peter’s admonition is for us to resist the devil.  We are to grow in grace as we suffer.  Suffering and trials teach us patience.  We should never grow upset when we are in the valley.   There are reasons for us being there, and there’s a mountaintop on both sides of a valley.   We don’t have to stay in valley all that long normally.   And if we do, God’s grace will sustain us.   Verse 11 says to Christ be glory and dominion for ever and ever.  In the end, the victory will belong to Jesus Christ.

IV.  The Benediction

1 Pet 5:12  By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

Peter mention the name of Silvanus who he regards as a faithful brother both to those to whom he is writing and to himself.   It is good to have faithful brothers and sisters in the Lord that we can depend upon.   Nothing great will be accomplished with people who are steady and will endure hardness.

Prov 25:19  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

1 Pet 5:13  The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

1 Pet 5:14  Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The church at Babylon joined Peter in their salutations to these Christians.  We see Mark’s name mentioned in verse 13.  We are to treat one another with respect and be glad to see one another.  Our customs today favor shaking hands over giving a holy kiss, but that was the custom of the day.   Charity of course means love, and we are to greet one another with love.

 

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Prov 4:18  But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 

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