1 Peter 5:1-11
1 Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you:
2 shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God's [will]; not for the money but eagerly;
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
5 Likewise, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.
8 Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.
10 Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.
11 To Him be the dominion forever. Amen.
Peter is writing to elders and encouraging them as to how they are to act and respond to the attacks of Satan Their success or failure would impact the lives of all of those around them.
In verses 1-7, he is imploring them to recognize the importance of the role they have as elders.
He tells them that they are to-
3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
He continues and addresses the need for humility with a reliance upon the Lord reminding them in verses 8-9 to be-
8 Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
9 Resist him, firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your brothers in the world.
Setting up a stronghold takes time and Satan has plenty of it. Peter is reminding them to be careful for themselves but also for those who are watching them. The ones they have a responsibility to lead.
What are some of the results that can occur?
Giving ground to Satan is giving him legal permission to attack and his goal is to establish strongholds. With a firm enough foothold in you life, he can turn an act of sin into a regular practice. From there it degenerates into a habit which leads downward to bondage.
We give ground when we refuse to let go of our sin, confess it, and turn from it. Look at how John dealt with this in his epistle of 1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
God is there with you and Psalm 46: 1-3 reminds us-
1 God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid, though the earth trembles and the mountains topple into the depths of the seas,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with its turmoil.
What is the quickest way through times of discouragement and adversity? Well, there isn’t one. However, through these times, be obedient and surrender the selfish feelings and desires. Pray maybe as never before and in that prayer is the shelter from the storms of life.
In the text in verses 10 and 11 Peter says
10 Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little.
11 To Him be the dominion forever.
In 1 Corinthians is a promise from God given to us through the words of His apostle Paul in
1 Corinthians 10:13
Stay close to God in devotion and prayer and read His Word
Have a great day in the Lord and we look forward to sharing again with you next week.
In God's Grace,
Elbert Nasworthy
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