Overall Humility 1Peter 5:1-7
As Peter comes to the end of this first general letter to the believes scattered about the part of the Roman empire that is now Turkey, believers who are beginning to be persecuted for being and living like disciples of Jesus, he speaks as a fellow elder (sumpresbuteros). This is significant in understanding who Peter was in the first century church. His exhortation (not a bull or an edict) is as a fellow servant, not as head of the church, not as prince of apostles, not as pontiff. He calls himself fellow-servant, witness (martyr) of Christ, sharer / joint heir, a tender of those who hunger for God. And he sets the example of doing so with cheerful readiness.
NOTE: Some “church words” in this section: elder = presbyter 5:1; overseer = episcopal 5:2; those in your charge = those to whom you are clergy.
OVERALL THE WORD TO ELDER AND YOUNGER - HUMBLE YOURSELF ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD IS IN CHARGE.
Philosophies of life (3) (much of these ideas are from a sermon my Matt Chandler – Village Church, Dallas)
1. Irreligious = secular godless
World, life, relationships have no real eternal significance --- So, eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. While you are here have as much pleasure as you can, live as well as you can because this is all we have. Some are lucky. Some are unlucky. But, life is what it is.
2. Religious = There is some sort of god and therefore
man must work to appease him
Religious ceremony or morality is the means of salvation --- From outside to inside --- If I do this or that I can have the approval, the love, the blessing of God
Anyone who looks at life with philosophies #1 and #2 is blind to some things.
>>>>> The blindness inherent in these philosophies results in belief systems that contradict truth and reason.
EXAMPLE: 1a. There is no god. We all got here by evolution. Since there is no god, we humans have to fight against social injustice --- the strong eating the weak. --- Problem --- Evolution says we all got here by the strong eating the weak.
EXAMPLE 2a. Even though claiming to believe the Bible, many religious people believe that good happens to good people and bad happens to bad people. --- Problem --- THAT IS NOT FROM THE BIBLE!! THAT IS FROM “MY NAME IS EARL”...KARMA!!! So tragedy often drives religious people away from God.
The Result --- Pride
EXAMPLE 1b. Everything you have is the result of your effort. Eat right; exercise; best education for you and kid; romantic with spouse. You earned your good life. PRIDE = “I am in control.”
EXAMPLE 2b. Everything will be good because you control God by doing this or that or using the right words or names... PRIDE = “I've got God under my control. He does what I want Him to do.”
The Hope --- To be made “low” (James 1:10)
EXAMPLE 1c and 2c There is a lump. A child is killed. A job is lost. A spouse leaves... The illusion of control is removed... with nothing more than a phone call.
EXAMPLE 3 (This applies to Philosophy 3 which is coming)To be made low by seeing something so much bigger, so much more beautiful, so much more than you are that you have something greater than yourself to worship...seeing how small you are. >>>>>Colossians1:15-20
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Col 1:19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
Col 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
3. (Philosophy 3) The Gospel “peace by the blood of his cross”... all things are by Him...all things are through Him and FOR Him...He is before all things...He is the fullness of God revealed...He is the reconciler.
Everything is for the glory of Jesus...from largest to smallest...all for glory, renown, worship of Jesus Christ ...even sorrow (God can stop it and often does – unless He has a plan for it and the devil becomes a pawn for His glory),
Gospel VS Religion --R. God gets obedience by threatening to squash you with guilt and shame. God is all powerful and will damn you.
G. God frees you to walk in the joy of obedience by bearing your guilt and shame Himself. God says, “You are wicked but I will bear your wicked to avoid the mockery of My name and reveal the greatness of my grace.”
If the err of secularism and religion is PRIDE and self sufficiency. In gospel understand your joy is authored by Jesus and even in sorrow you understand that Jesus has allowed it for His glory and your sanctification So even in sorrow you are pressed by not crushed.
So you can loosen up your hands. Secularism/religion theme is MINE! I must protect. God gave this to me for me. This is MINE.
Gospel theme is YOURS It is not mine. That is liberating... This stuff is not mine. This salvation is not my doing. This is not even my life. That is freedom.
MINE make you a slave to that thing you say mine of.
So ... Whatever age, whatever gender, whatever position ... Be humble and trust gracious God. Trust your cares to Him. He cares for you. He will carry you and your burden.. Matthew10:29-31;
Mat 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
Mat 10:30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Psalm40:17; Psa 40:17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!
Psalm 27:10; Psa 27:10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me in.
Isaiah49:15; Isa 49:15 "Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.
Psalm71:18 Psa 71:18 So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.
That makes us, gospel believers, different. Our joy has been created for us by God – even in tough times. We think differently from the religious and the irreligious...Matthew20:21-28 “It shall not be so among you.”
Mat 20:21 And he said to her, "What do you want?" She said to him, "Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom."
Mat 20:22 Jesus answered, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?" They said to him, "We are able."
Mat 20:23 He said to them, "You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
Mat 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.
Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
Mat 20:26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
Mat 20:27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
Mat 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Makes us -- instead of protecting our money because who knows what might happen next week -- It allows us to be free to buy milk for orphans. ...Cases of milk. ...Buy dispensas (non-perishable foods) for our poor... to give to build a house for someone we don't even know.
Instead of guarding our time and our cleanliness. The Gospel sets us free to love on kids... questionable kids ...dirty kids... The Gospel sets us free to work in a thrift shop...or teach ESL ...
To travel 4 hours to stay at an orphanage and give a Christian couple some time off.
Because our money is not ours. Our cleanliness is not ours. Our time is not ours. Our car is not ours.... Our life is all about bringing glory to Jesus Christ.
There is a need we ought to do that. Not... There is a need someone ought to do that.
Is that what your life is all about???
