1 Peter 5:1-4
Peter identified with these leaders. He didn't place himself above them in any way. He encouraged the elders and considered himself to be a fellow elder. Peter hadn't forgotten where he came from. He had once been the one who denied Christ. Jesus dealt with Peter and encouraged him to feed the flock. In this encouragement to the leaders we see a humble Peter, mature in his faith, feeding the flock.
Peter had seen the glory of the Lord at the Mt of Transfiguration. He had suffered watching the Lord crucified (although not directly). And then he saw Jesus resurrected. Peter's life was a roller coaster of highs and lows; from mountaintop experiences and sinking in the sea in unbelief. Peter said he was a fellow elder, not above them in any way, but he also qualifies himself as having lived through some stuff in his life. He had a testimony worth hearing.
And we know that Peter was about to suffer again. Very soon after he wrote these letters he watched his wife crucified and was crucified himself. These were difficult times for Peter and you hear the leadership in this letter instead of drawing back or hiding.
Peter was calling these men to a similar leadership. He was building them up and encouraging them to lead in these difficult times.
All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
Edmund Burke said this. In the middle of this suffering and persecution there must be leadership; men living in the Lord and pointing to the Lord. These men were to be shepherds and not for money or greed. They weren't to act as lords over those entrusted to them. They were to be good examples of having the heart of a servant.
When the church was being persecuted, I'm sure lots of pastors were struggling with courage and faith to lead. Peter said those that serve faithfully and lead through this time of suffering will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. They were to be the examples of those who had committed their soul to the Lord.
This call to lead may speak to some of you, if not as a leader at the church, at least as a leader in your family or workplace. We are all leaders in some way.
1 Peter 5:5-7
Peter's words now turn to the younger men. They were to submit themselves to the elders; to honor the experience and wisdom of those elders. These younger men were to learn from them and be mentored by them. They were to live a humble life and be cautious of pride. God resists the proud. Pride is found in all ages - but it is more prevalent in the young. Linked to this submission is the idea of being clothed with humility. This is the only place this Greek word for 'clothed' is used. It means to 'tie on' or 'clothe' our self. No one accidentally gets dressed, it is something done purposeful. We are to purposefully tie on humility as a guard against pride.
If we confess Him and allow His work in our life, I believe God will purge the pride from our life. The sooner we recognize our own pride, the better we will be at seeing it sneak back in to our life. We are to be humble and submissive; committing our souls to Him.
God's hand is mighty and when we come humbly before Him we receive grace. In that grace we are able to give our lives to Him and he promises to exalt us. We are to cast our cares on him – not lay them down or cautiously ask for help, but cast them before Him. The word for 'cast' is only used one other place. At the triumphal entry of Christ, they cast their clothes on the colt and they set Jesus on it. As we cast our cares on Him, we are done with them. We've turned them over to Him. Do we trust Him with our problems and cares?
1 Peter 5:8
These people may have seen their brothers and sisters in Christ fed to the lions. This saying, comparing the devil to a lion, may have meant more to them than we could imagine. Peter says the devil stalks us like a roaring lion, making lots of noise, being very intimidating. He's looking for a victim; looking for someone weak to prey on. Satan is very real and we are his enemy. He devours lives, joy, marriages, contentment, and anything else that will discourage you from the Lord. We are to be sober and vigilant. This is a command to be clear headed and watchful. We can cast our cares on the Lord but we still have a responsibility to be wise and mature in our faith.
1 Peter 5:9
He doesn't say run from the devil or go to war with the devil. In fact, Christ won the war with the devil on the cross. A toothless lion can still roar. The devil can strut around and roar and intimidate and He will try to use the suffering in your life to devour your faith. If he can turn you against God or get you to believe God has forgotten you; if he can get you to question your belief or cast doubt on your salvation or your trust in the word, then you give him power over your life. Otherwise, he has no teeth.
To be steadfast is to stand stall and resist him. If we trust God in all circumstances, the worst of which is suffering that may take your physical life. If you trust God in that, you disarm the roaring lion. There is nothing he can do to you.
This is the picture of this big, intimidating lion roaring; your hair blowing back, lion slobber all over you, and you never waiver because we know God is sovereign. He allows suffering in our life for His purpose. These same sufferings are experienced by all Christians.
Nebuchadnezzar was a big roaring lion. Shadrach, Meshach and Abedneggo said: Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
1 Peter 5:10-11
This is indication that this season of suffering will pass, as they all do. God is working through all circumstances to perfect and sanctify the believer. He calls us to His eternal glory through Jesus. This calling leads us through the pain of persecution sometimes. Peter prays for the perfection, establishment, strength and contentment of these believers; this is to be prepared, confirmed, strengthened and content when the day of relief from suffering occurs, be it earthly rest or eternal rest. After they've suffered, they will find that the Lord worked through that suffering to build them up, to purify them in the Lord.
1 Peter 5:12-13
We can look back over these 5 chapters and know Peter's purpose was to exhort, but also to testify that they stood in the true grace of God. These folks needed told that. They didn't feel like they were standing in any true grace. They were living difficult lives and dying for their faith. What they probably wanted to hear was that men with swords were on their way, the war was on and we can't lose because Gods on our side. That's what they wanted. What they needed was to know they stood in the grace of God; secure, with an inheritance incorruptible, in good standing with the Lord by the work of Jesus. This is it – it just doesn't look like you thought it would. You aren't missing anything; God hasn't forgotten you. All is well, God is on the throne.
In this fallen world bad things will happen. Satan will use these things to eat us up or God will use these things to build us up. That's why we need a good understanding of suffering, pain, sorrow and persecution now, so when it comes, we are already firmly planted in the Lord with full knowledge that we are called to redemption and holiness but also suffering and submission. We are to stand fast and trust the Lord. We are to be serious and watchful. The end of all things is at hand.
Amen.
© 2012 Doug Ford
Updated & revised 2020
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