LEAD
Question of the day: Can you share a story about the importance of Independence in your life, or what the word means to you? (This does not need to be in the patriotic sense or political, answer it whatever comes to mind.
Today we are coming close to finishing 1 Peter. I have been so thankful for this study for this time. It has encouraged me, challenged me and made me so incredibly thankful for the relevance of this book for me EVERYDAY, that was written so long ago! That can only be explained by the infinite glories of God!
Let's read together.
1 Peter 5:1-11
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 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 crown of glory that will never fade away.
If you are not an ordained elder, don't worry this passage is still for you! We can all learn, however... If you are an elder
I hope your ears, your heart, and your mind are perking up! Alert and ready to learn because this is especially important for you!
Why?
Why not just say it is blanket important for everyone?
What Peter is asking for in this passage requires a level of maturity. Spiritual maturity! It isn't easy, it isn't comfortable, but it is NECESSARY!
I really believe that the only way this passage is possible, is with a relationship with God that is personally trans formative.
Now I realize I said at the beginning that this was for everyone, and it is. Look to be an elder does not mean you are the most spiritually mature individual, and if you are not an elder does not mean you don't have great spiritual maturity. As we study this today, it is my hope that each of us, examine our own hearts, and how challenging this passage is for us. Know that if there are things in this chapter that are too daunting, then perhaps it isn't what God is calling you to yet. Maybe he still has some other things that he is working on with you that are far more important. However, this passage is what we all have to look forward to! This passage is the beautiful hard work of loving one another that we need to be doing!
2. Be shepherds of God's flock.
Let's talk about what it means to be a shepherd.
We know that shepherds care for, protect, lead, will sacrifice selfish desires to minister to just one, will count and make sure no one is forgotten, will be in such a way that the sheep don't fear you. What else?
If Jesus is our shepherd, then to be asked to be shepherds of God's flock, means what?
If ever there was a call to be like Christ this is a straight up obvious one! Are you overwhelmed yet?
Do you feel inadequate yet?
You should, we all should! None of us will ever be equipped right? Absolutely, NONE of us! So then why try?
Let's keep going... maybe we will answer that question later.
3. Watching over them, not because you must - but because you are willing as God wants you to!
Watching over them....
What does it mean to watch over them?
When have you felt like someone was watching over you? (Was it positive or negative?)
The first several times I read this it never occurred that this might be negative, but it can be right? I don't want us to dwell too much on the differences because Peter let's us know what this should be, so let's move on...
NOT because you must but because you are willing as God wants you to!
NOT because you must...
Willing...
Why is willing so important?
Willing as God wants you to...
Willing for Him.
This is one of the points that shows the importance of a relationship with Christ first. I have struggled recently with being overwhelmed with so much going on both in tasks and mental and emotionally. With that at times I have felt like others want or even expect me to do certain things for them, and I have really struggled with knowing how and what I am supposed to be doing. I will tell you, last weeks lesson here in 1 Peter reminded me that it is my calling to what Christ is asking me to do that I must listen to! So watching over the flock is what He IS CALLING ME TO and I MUST do it willingly because of HIM! It comes from know Him and all He has done for me and that, THAT makes all the difference. Because of what He has done and who He is I am willing to do ALL that he asks! Not out of fear or obligation but willingly because He asked!
4. not pursuing dishonest gain
What does this mean for you and me today?
In the message bible it says, "not calculating what you can get out of it."
5. eager to serve
Eager to serve... are we eager or reluctant? Who are we eager to serve?
What about the individual that we don't agree with how they are living?
What about the individual who irritates us?
What about the individual who you see as having an unhealthy neediness?
Are we eager to serve everyone or just some?
6. NOT lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
This one is soooo incredibly important. It is our example, our testimony lived, that the Holy Spirit can use to inspire transformation for others, but NOT lording it over others... say less do more!
Say less, serve more.
Say less, give more.
Say less, do more.
Say less, listen more.
Say less, protect more.
Say less, be present more.
7. Do this and when the Lord comes you will receive a crown of glory that will never fade away.
Okay, I know should this be our motivation?
Maybe to know we should better understand what this is saying.
It is just about a glittery crown of glory that we get to wear forever...
I mean I am all about the sparkly tiaras. I wouldn't mind a heaven created one that puts all the earthly crowns to shame.
In the message it says, "He will comment you lavishly."
This isn't about the motivation being a trophy, but it points back to the beginning where he says to be willing for God. God will be so thankful, so please, that he will lavishly commend you.
Let's continue reading....
5In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
6So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
HUMILITY
We are going to close out our class this week talking about the importance of humility.
"DRESS" yourselves in humility.
You know I love clothes, and I love studying clothes in the bible and how it is used to teach us truth. Once again we are clothed in something, or dressed in something, so why is this used here?
What does it mean to dress yourselves in humility?
Let's review why we wear clothes.
1. To cover our nakedness
2. To make statements about who we are.
Any other reasons we dress ourselves?
So what does that say about humility or perhaps our state before we dress in humility.
This is for me an incredibly grace filled concept, because I may not be through and through humble. I may struggle with pride, or an elevated sense of self, or I may be hurting, or feel attacked, I may want to put on armor, but I am told to put on humility. I may feel like clothing myself in accomplishments but I am asked to be clothed in humility.
If clothes cover, then to dress in humility implies it may be covering up something, maybe that is something that I need to let God take, or something that He is working with me on, but non the less I am told to dress in humility.
Some of us cover imperfections with clothes, others of us cover beauty with clothes, either way, what we must present with is humility! What we must let be the leading first impression is humility. What we must let cover "self" is humility.
Oh LORD, please give me the garment of humility! Oh Lord, when I am so far from being humble cover me in it! May humility lead, at the fore front of who I am ALWAYS!
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Do you need grace?
In closing, these last few verses talk about the importance of where this humility comes from. It is from a surrendered heart to Christ. Give it all to him, trust in him to protect your heart, that will give you the ability to let down your flimsy walls of protection, and let people see your clothes of humility which are NOT armor. You don't need the walls you put up? You need to surrender that to God and just put on a simple shepherds garment.
I plead with each of you today to spend some time in prayer asking God to remove the walls, to remove the fake armor, and to give you the clothes of humility so that you can shepherd with a kindness and gentleness, yet at the same time with the courage to slay the lion and the bear for those in your charge. It isn't that to lead in this way means we are just peace loving hippies that just want to sweep everything under the rug and pretend nothing bad is going on... We must be willing to fight for those we are called to serve, we must be willing to lead, all with humility!
I don't know about you but this feels impossible! At the beginning of this lesson I asked the question, why even try if this is so unreachable?
It all goes back to a willingness. Willingness to serve God.
He will take our willingness, and do a beautiful transformation work in our lives. He will equip you. He will give you the garments of humility. Because He gives us protection we don't have to worry about self, but can selflessly serve. We can let go of the "but I" and listen, serve, fight for, minister to, seek after, count, help to heal wounds, feed, water, and everything else that a good shepherd does, because God has and will continue to take care of us.
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