Lesson 6
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, You are the Shepherd and Captain of our souls. We surrender our lives to You and make You the center of our lives. We give You full control of our lives because You are omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 Peter 5:1-14, Shepherd the flock, Christian relationships, farewell
VV 1-4, 1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
Church elders are shepherds of the flock of God. The flock belonged to God. Jesus is the chief shepherd, and elders are under-shepherds who take instructions from Him. A shepherd is a pastor. A pastor’s job is to teach, protect, feed, nurture, guide, role model, and take care of all the needs of his sheep. A pastor should do the job willingly. eagerly, honestly, and above reproach, to receive an eternal crown of glory on His second coming.
VV 5-7, 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Younger Christians should submit to elders of the church, and submit to other Christians in humility. We should humble themselves to God and He will exalt us in due time. We should cast our cares on Christ because He cares for us.
James 4:6, But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
VV 8-11, 8 Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
We should be clear-minded and watchful because the devil is out to harm us as a roaring lion. We should resist the devil with unshakable faith in Christ, James 4:7. Christians suffering in the name of Christ is universal. God who called us into His glory in Christ will establish, strengthen, and stabilize us in due time. Verse 11 is another doxology. Glory and dominion belonged to Christ eternally.
James 4:7, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you”.
VV 12-14, 12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. 13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.
The amanuensis or secretary who wrote on behalf of Peter was Silvanus. Peter dictated and Silvanus wrote. Babylon was the code name for Rome. Peter acknowledged John Mark, the author of Mark, his protege and spiritual god-son in the faith. Peter pronounced a blessing of peace to his audience. Hebrew for peace is “shalom”, which means tranquility.
Application:
Elders of the church teach, protect, feed, nurture, guide, role model, and take care of the sheep. They should do their job willingly. eagerly, honestly, and above reproach.
We should submit to church elders, other Christians, and God with humility. We should cast all our cares upon Christ because He cares for us. We should be vigilant, clear-minded, watchful, and resist the devil.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us to be vigilant, clear-minded, and watchful because the devil is a roaring lion out to harm us. Help us resist the devil with unshakeable faith in Christ. We pray for Your grace to establish, strengthen, and stabilize us, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Chapter two: 2 Peter, prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit
