Final Exhortations: Last Words To A Suffering Church

Final Exhortations Lesson 24

Last words to a suffering church

1 Peter 5:1-2, 5-11 1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, 5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

“The inevitable suffering of the Christian life always yields the same blessed result in the character of believers; it will refine the faith, adjust the character, establish, strengthen and settle the people of God.” Harry Lacey; God and the Nations

Introduction

I. A Word to Shepherds

A. Their Mentor 1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed:

1. The Origen of Elders - Exodus 18:13-27

2. The Qualifications of Elders - 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Titus 1:5-9

3. Peter’s place in the office - “a fellow elder”

B. Their Ministry 2a Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers —

What elders do

1 C. Their Motive 2b-3 not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

Ezekiel 34:1-16

D, Their Manner 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

This is not a cattle drive for cowboys

E. Their Majesty 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

II. A Wanting of Submission 5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

The degree of anxiety experienced will be inversely proportional to the degree to which we believe God. We need to affirm the truth of the gospel every day in every circumstance of life.

III. A Warning about Satan 8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

A. The deceiver

2 Cor 11:14-15 14 …for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light . 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

B. The destroyer

Rev 2:10 Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful , even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.

C. The defeated

1 John 4:3-4

2 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The Sovereignty of God is the most comforting truth that mankind could ever know

1. He is absolutely sovereign over the course and affairs of the world

Over salvation

1 Peter 1:1-2 1 God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,

2 Tim 2:24-26 24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

“Still he shows his freedom and lordship by discriminating between sinners, causing some to hear the gospel while others do not hear it, and moving some of those who hear it to repentance while leaving others in their unbelief, thus teaching his saints that he owes mercy to none and that it is entirely of his grace, not at all through their own effort, that they themselves have life.” J.I. Packer; Knowing God

Over suffering

1 Peter 1:6-7 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 3:17 It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1 Peter 4:19 So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

“Still he seeks the fellowship of his people, and sends them both sorrows and joys in order to detach their love from other things and attach it to himself.” J.I. Packer; Knowing God

Over Satan himself

1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

3 1 John 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.

Rev 20:10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. IV. A Writing to Sufferers 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

“This is the true grace of God…”

You are God's elect 1 Peter 1:1 You have been chosen 1 Peter 1:2 God has given us new birth into a living hope 1 Peter 1:3 We have been given an inheritance that can never perish 1 Peter 1:4 We are shielded by God's power 1 Peter 1:5 Our trials are purposeful These have come so that 1 Peter 1:7 We are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy 1 Peter 1:8 We are receiving the goal of faith, 1 Peter 1:9 the salvation of our souls Previously hidden things that have now been told you 1 Peter 1:12 You were redeemed from the empty way of life 1 Peter 1:18-19 Because of Jesus you believe in God 1 Peter 1:21 You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable1 Peter 1:23 You have tasted that the Lord is good 1 Peter 2:3

You are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:5

You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 1 Peter 2:10

You are free men 1 Peter 2:16 Christ suffered for you leaving you an example, 1 Peter 2:21

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, 1 Peter 2:24 so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness You have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

4 Even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. 1 Peter 3:14 You participate in the sufferings of Christ 1 Peter 4:13 You are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 1 Peter 4:14

“…this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform; He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill He treasures up His bright designs And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour; The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain; God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

William Cowper, in Twenty-six Letters on Religious Subjects, by John Newton, 1774.

It is reportedly the last hymn Cowper ever wrote.

Cowper often struggled with depression and doubt. One night he decided to commit suicide by drowning himself. He called a cab and told the driver to take him to the Thames River. How- ever, thick fog came down and prevented them from finding the river (another version of the story has the driver getting lost deliberately). After driving around lost for a while, the cabby finally stopped and let Cowper out. To Cowper’s surprise, he found himself on his own doorstep: God had sent the fog to keep him from killing himself.

Even in our darkest moments, God watches over us.

5 Class Member Survey

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 9 you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.12 I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2:9; 5:12 1. How has your relationship with Jesus changed over the past year? ______

2. What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your study of 1 Peter? ______

Please list 3 specific ways that subsequent classes could be improved.

3. ______4. ______5. ______

Please list, in order of preference, 3 suggestions for future class study.

1. ______2. ______3. ______

Each year we collect money to cover expenses associated with the class. Those expenses include: Facilities rent, Printing and handouts, Snacks, Tapes, Production and sound equipment, Web site, etc We hold a minimal amount over in the account each year for start up expenses for the next class year.

6 (Usually around $200) In the past, if there has been a surplus, we have given to a cause or ministry that has been agreed upon by the class. Please feel free to offer suggestions as to the disbursement of any surplus that may accrue at the end of this class year. ______

Other comments or critiques ______