Last
Week we looked at the responsibility of the pastor to shepherd and lead the
church. We saw that he is appointed by the Holy Spirit to serve the assembly of
believers. He is to feed the flock of God not lording over them. His heart felt
desire as Paul stated in Col. 1:28, is to "preach, warring every man in
all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus"
Today I want to continue in I Peter 5:5-11 and look at the responsibility of
all believers to the Lord.
I. Believers Are
To Be Submissive. V5-7
A. Peter turns
his attention from the shepherd to the sheep.
1. Good leaders
deserve good followers.
2. Those that
are led are responsible to be in subjection to God and to other Christians.
3. As sheep, we
are responsible to God to be good followers.
B. Submission to
Elders. V5
1. Church
leaders were usually older members.
2. 'Elder' and
'younger' are not terms of instruction concerning age.
3. They refer to
the recognition of position and maturity.
a. Note the
verse does not say "younger men or women" it says just younger.
b. Literally the
word means "new" as a new person, or fresh person.
4. It is
contrary to our human nature to be submissive to anyone.
a. It is a
matter of pride.
b. No one wants
to be told what to do.
c. The world
says if we submit to anyone else we are inferior.
d. It says we
are less than they are and that it is demeaning to follow someone else.
5. Biblical
submission is to be in our right position or place.
6. The pastor is
no greater than any member or any member greater than the pastor.
7. No deacon,
trustee, teacher or church officers is greater or lesser in God's eye than
anyone else.
8. Each of us
has a responsibility to God and to each other.
C. The Bible
says we are to humble ourselves to God.
1. You see one
reason some have a problem submitting to others is because they are not
submitted to God.
2. They rebel
against the leadership that God appoints because they are at odds with the
Lord.
3. The one
submitted to God will obey God.
4. Peter quoted
Prov., 3:34 to emphasize God's attitude toward the proud and toward the humble.
PROVERBS 3:34 34
SURELY HE SCORNETH THE SCORNERS: BUT HE GIVETH GRACE UNTO THE LOWLY. (KJV)
5. The word
"resisteth" means to be opposed, God has set himself against the
proud and the arrogant, but gives Grace (favor) to the humble.
II. Believers
Are Encouraged To Stand Fast And Do Right. V8-11
A. Although we
are to rely on God and cast our cares on Him...
1. We are not to
be careless.
2. We are to be
sensible.
3. Be Alert!!!
a. The devil is
always ready to slip in and do his dirty work.
b. He seeks to
undo and confuse the work of the Lord.
c. He will tempt
us with pride and feeling of inferiority.
d. He will
convince you that others are taking advantage of you if you enthusiastically do
you job.
4. We never give
place to the devil! cf Ep 4:27
a. We must
understand that bickering, gossiping, complaining and always finding fault with
others is of the devil.
b. It causes
confusion and division.
c. Most times if
someone is upset about something, if they would go to the person who upset them
and explain and ask for an explanation the matter would be solved.
d. Yet, people
sometimes feel they need support, so they carry tale to others.
e. Rumors and
gossip can go on for years.
1)
ex. Proctor and Gamble sign
2)
FCC and Madelyn Murray O'Hare
3)
Note: Lincoln illustration
Abraham
Lincoln's coffin was pried open twice. The first occasion was in 1887,
twenty-two long years after his assassination. Why? You may be surprised to
know it was not to determine if he had died of a bullet fired from John Wilkes
Booth's derringer. Then why? Because a rumor was sweeping the country that his
coffin was empty. A select group of witnesses observed that the rumor was
totally false, then watched as the casket was resealed with lead.
The
second time, fourteen years later, the martyred man's withered body was viewed
again - this time by even more witnesses. Why again? For the same grim purpose!
Rumors of the same nature had again implanted doubts in the public's mind. The
pressure mounted to such proportions, that the same ghoulish, grotesque
ceremony had to be carried out. In spite of the strong protests of Lincoln's
son Robert, the body was exposed a second time. Officials felt the rumors
should be laid to rest along with the Civil War president. Finally - the corpse
was permanently embedded in a crypt at Springfield.
III. Concluding
Thoughts.
A. Working
together to carry on the work of the Lord is an act of a mature Christian who
loves the Lord and wants Christ to be glorified.
B. If we are
seeking to bring glory to the Lord, then we will be examining all we do to make
sure that whatever it is it honors the Lord.
Note: Casey
Stengel said: "It's easy to get good players. Getting' em to play
together, that's the hard part."
C. What's true
in baseball is also true in the ministry of the local church.
D. What would
help us is when we are hurt, when we disagree, when we feel hurt....take it to
the Lord, for God cares.
1. It is hard to
harbor evil feelings toward someone in the presence of Christ.
2. When the
gossip begins to unload on you.
a. Ask them
straight forth, "Have you been to the person who offended you?"
b. Have you
tried to settle the matter with them?
c. If they
persist and offer the gossip will ...then say, "You are talking to the
wrong person, go the them."
E. When there is
a job to be done volunteer and get it done. Look for opportunities to help do
the work of the ministry.
Do
something. Do not sit by in silence and wait for someone else to do it, or
assume that someone else will take care of it. There is danger in remaining silent.
There
is a story told of a remarkable account of the destruction of an ancient city.
The watchmen on the walls would call out whenever they thought they saw a foe
approaching. Sensing that the people had begun to resent them for giving these
alarms, they decided to remain quiet. Regrettably, not long afterward the enemy
actually did come. The enemy sent a small group of men to test the defenses.
They seemed to the watchmen to be of no danger. The walls were high and the
city was strong. The watchmen were not sure if they were the enemy or not. They
watchmen fearing the scorn of the town gave no alarm. They remained silent.
Then
the enemy moved his main force and attacked the city. The city that could have
been saved was assaulted and devastated, and nothing was left but smoking
ruins. Later someone erected a small memorial inscribed with the following
epitaph: "Here stood a town that was destroyed by silence."