Book of 1 Peter - Ch. 5, Vs. 1-14 (11/10/2002)

Okay, I have a question. Does God have any grandchildren, Russell? Does God have any grandchildren? I don't mean grand like Fred did. Joey, there are no grandchildren in the family of God. We're all children.

The Elders, the Chief Shepherd, and the Crown of Glory

Well, I'm going to start with chapter 5 because there's some things in it that I want to bring out. The elders which are among you I exhort. An elder is an old person. I am an elder. So is Peter, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.

He was present when Christ suffered, and we must understand his suffering was separation, not the physical suffering. And the glory that shall be revealed is still coming. It will be revealed someday.

Feed the flock of God. Now the word for feed is poineio. It means to not put the food down and go away. It means that the food is offered or placed in front of the person in such a way that they want to eat.

That's the business of a teacher. Feed the flock of God. He did not say fleece the flock of God. And there's a lot of that going on, which is among you. Taking the oversight, care of the church which rests upon the elders, thereof not by constraint.

David, what does constraint mean? Being coerced into something that we're not equipped and do not want to do. Let me ask you a question, Joy. There is a situation comes along. You don't want to handle it, and you don't have to handle it.

What do you do? Well, you're not required to handle that. What would you do? I'm talking about anything, any place, any time. You're something comes and you don't want to do it. You don't have to do it.

What do you do? That's right. You just don't do it. I tell you, sometimes it's a struggle. Now, what we are to do is only that which we know is pleasing to God. God's not pleased with us when we allow the others to dictate our actions willingly, voluntarily, willing of one's own accord.

But not for filthy lucre, eagerness for base gain, but of a ready mind, which, or as much as in you is, put out the food in such a way that they will want to eat it. Russell, that's not as easy as it sounds.

And a lot of preachers and teachers just put the word out regardless of whether you want it or not. Three, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being in samples to the flock. Friends, what does heritage mean?

All right. Neither as being lords over God's heritage. Whose heritage is it? God's heritage. But being in samples to the flock. Russell, what does in sample mean? All right. Don't lord it over the congregation.

Lord it over. Four, and when the chief shepherd shall appear, the chief shepherd, the chief, what's chief mean, David? When he shall appear, imperative statement, he's going to appear. To make manifest or visible or known what has been hidden or unknown.

To manifest, whether by words or deeds or any other way, Christ, the head of the church. He shall receive a crown of glory. Now, this crown of glory is not salvation. So don't run down that road. The eternal blessing, which will be given as a prize to the genuine servants of God in Christ, receive a crown.

The crown was a wreath, which is reward of the righteousness. A wreath to wear on the head, I don't think it'll be a physical crown. But it doesn't fade away. Why did he include that statement, Russell?

That fadeth not away. All right. That is compared to something. Yes. The earthly crown fades away, especially in that day and time they made a crown of a wreath of flowers or something. They would eventually fade.

Humility, Casting Care on God, and Resisting the Devil

The root idea being that it is unaffected by the withering, which is common in the case of flowers. Five. 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.

They're always seeking God where he isn't, seeking him where the knowledge of God is absent. It's impossible to be humble where the knowledge of God is absent. Yes. Yes. He's not serving God when he soaks up all the glory.

Now, the work done has nothing to do with this. There is a voluntary humility that I must touch on. Such as people thinking themselves unworthy to come to God. Did you ever know anybody like that? Like Peter says, you're not going to wash my feet.

I'm not worthy of the Lord's Supper. I cannot believe the Lord loves me. This is the worst kind of pride. Setting up worthiness as a condition to receive the gift of God. As though you could. Yes. The lack of humility does that.

That's right. Six. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time. This is written in the passive voice. What's passive mean, David? Right. It means to be acted upon by God.

Be humble. Be submissive to the discipline of God. In due time. That's an interesting phrase. I missed Verge this morning. In due time. What's that mean, Joy? No, we know the term. And we think we understand it, but it's just very little.

In due time. At the proper time. Either in this life or the next. Or in the next. But he, what did it say? He may exalt you in due time. Is there any question about it? Whether he's going to exalt you or not.

That's right. Seven. Casting. And casting here means to put in motion. All your care upon him, for he cares for you. Casting all of your care upon him. First of all, we all have cares. Quote, unquote.

And we all, to some degree, worry. Quote, unquote. We shouldn't worry at all. And we should cast all of our cares on him. Do not worry once for all. Ever. About anything. Ever. Again. Now, I said it. But it's hard to practice.

At least for me. Casting all of your care upon him. As though you had dumped all of your cares on him. You shouldn't have worry. Be sober. Sober? What does sober here mean, David? All right. Mentally self-control.

Be vigilant. What does it mean, be vigilant, Bill? Yes. Keep awake. Watch. Look for God's control. Because it's in everything. Because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

Now, Russell, did the devil ever come to you? Did he devour you? Yes. The devil cannot devour us. No way. Now, he can tempt us, trying to set Christ at naught in us. Now, this is not a wish, but a prediction.

The devil can come to you, but he cannot devour you. Whom resisteth steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Knowing steadfast.

This does not mean for us to fight against the devil. We can't win. But we are to stand firm against. Stand in the faith. It's the only way you can stand. Knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Everything comes to everybody the same alike. To stand firm against the onset of the devil, not as yourself, but in the exercise of your given faith. 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, establish, strengthen, settle you.

Divine Calling, Suffering, and Eternal Glory

God is the source of all comfort and help for every occasion. Is that a true statement or a false statement? It's absolutely true. Now, he called us in Christ Jesus. Is that a divine summons? Clarence.

Yes. Hold tight. You cannot refuse this call. How many think that's true? Absolutely. You went straight to the heart of it. That's right. That's so true. Don't have the handfuls. But the God of all grace, who hath called you unto his eternal glory, is his glory, by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.

It is a divine call. You cannot refuse it. God calls us into salvation in order that... Well, let me ask you this. Why has God called us into salvation? Russell. All right. Who said that? Yes, sir. For us to worship him, to honor him.

It is for him, not us. We have salvation for him, not us. That's right. He did it for himself. Aren't you glad? So glad that I was included. 11. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. That basically closes this first letter, but he goes on a little bit.

He is a Baptist preacher, if you know what I mean. By Sylvanius, and faithful brother unto you, as I suppose I have written briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein you stand.

The church that is at Babylonia, elected together with you, salutes you, and so does Marcus, my son. Greet ye one another with a handshake of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

You know, when the angels announced the birth of Christ, what was it that they said? David. Peace among men of good cheer. It's not peace to the world. Peace among men of good cheer. Well, are there any questions?

Bill covered this. I just thought there was a few things that he and I together would bring out. All right, God has no grandchildren. If there's nothing else, let's stand and wrestle dismisses, please.