1. I Peter
Lesson 12

2. I Peter At A Glance Theme: Stand firm in the true grace of God
Chp. 1 Prepare your mind for action
Chp. 2 Come to Him as living stones
Chp. 3 Turn from evil: do what is right
Chp. 4 Keep fervent in love for the brethren
Chp. 5 Be humble: resist the devil
Key words: stand firm, humble, do good, be sober, suffer, purpose, submit, faith, grace, mercy, peace…

3. I Peter 5
“Elder”: presbuteros – an old man, the elder of two people, a term of rank or office. A mature man having seasoned judgment, experience.
“Shepherd”: poimaino – to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep, TOTAL CARE, pastors and teachers in the church
John 21:15-17 Jesus called Peter to “tend My lambs” and “shepherd My sheep”
I Pet. 5:4 Jesus is the Chief Shepherd and Peter was an elder who shepherded God’s flock
I Pet. 5 Speaks of church elders
Acts 4:5-8 Jews had elders who were their leaders

4. Elders/Shepherds
Acts 14:23 After the birth of the church, elders for each local church were appointed by the apostles
Jam. 5:14 When sick, call on the elders for prayer
I Pet. 5:2 Elders are to shepherd the flock among them. Elders are ones who rule well
Rev. 4:4, 10 There are 24 holy elders around God’s throne constantly worshipping Him
Tit. 2:2 and I Tim. 5 Used simply of someone who is older
Ez. 34 God’s design for the shepherd of His people Israel which was NOT being fulfilled

5. Job of the Shepherds Strengthen the sickly/weak Heal the diseased/sick
Bind the broken/injured
Bring back the scattered/strayed
Seek the lost
Feed the sheep
John 10:1-6, Jesus our Chief Shepherd lays down His life, willingly, for the sheep
Elders are the ones who CAN lead and care for others. Why?
I Pet. 5:5 Young men, submit to your elders, in the local church. They are “proper authorities”.

6. Humility and Pride
I Pet. 5:5 ALL believers are to clothe themselves with humility toward one another
Humility: making oneself low
Why? God gives grace to the humble but is against the proud I Pet. 5:5
Is. 14 and 2 Thess. 2 Satan said, “I will ascend..” “I will be like God”…he exalts himself above…
Phil. 2:5-11 Jesus humbled Himself and calls His followers to do the same
Jam. 4:10 God exalts the humble
Those who willingly submit to God-ordained authority, like elders, are humble. The proud, are disobedient.

7. Humility and Anxiety
The recipients of this letter were suffering! But Peter told them to submit themselves under God’s mighty hand. He is the One ultimately over all.
I Pet. 5:6 He will exalt those who have humbled themselves before Him, at the proper time.
IF a believer truly humbles himself under God’s hand, there is no anxiety
“Anxiety”: merimma – worry, care that brings disruption to the personality and the mind.
I Pet. 5:7 Believers are to cast all their cares on God

8. Anxiety
“To cast”: epirrhipto – to throw upon, make responsible for, roll over on to another
I Pet. 5:4 Jesus is our Chief Shepherd, He cares for us
Matt. 6 Jesus commands us not to be anxious, giving us the example of birds and flowers that He cares for
There is no reason to worry if one knows that his needs are met. (suffering recipients)
Phil. 4:6-7 Make your requests to God, He will answer and supply all your needs
Rom. 8:31 God is for His own

9. Anxiety
Rom. 8:32 If God did not withhold His only Son, which was our greatest need, then He will not withhold any other need a believer has!
I Pet. 1:5 God is over all and protects His own
All of this is true, even when we are threatened by the devil himself.

10. Satan/ the devil I Pet. 5:8 He seeks to devour us
He CAN cause some of the suffering you go through
John 8:44 He is a murderer
He is the father of lies
2 Cor. 11:13-15 His followers can disguise themselves as servants of righteousness
False teaching is one of his tools
Matt. 4:1-11 He is the tempter

11. Instructions to resist Satan
I Pet. 5:8 Be sober (1:13)
Be on the alert/watchful
I Pet. 5:9 Resist him. In order to resist him you MUST be alert, sober and watchful
Luke 22:31 Peter himself knew what tricks the devil uses. He wanted to sift him like wheat.
I John 4:4 Greater is He that is in you, than he who is in the world
Eph. 1:19 The surpassing greatness of God’s power enables us to resist Satan’s temptations
Eph. 6 The Word of God is how Jesus resisted, therefore we must know it and use it like He did

12. Instructions to resist Satan
Eph. 6:14 Knowing the truth prevents Christians from being deceived by false teachings/Satan
I Pet. 5:12 Resist by being firm in your faith
James 4:7 Submit to GOD and the devil will flee
Be sober and alert because Satan will return with the SAME tactic! Submit and resist again.
I Pet. 5:10 The suffering is only for a little while when viewed with an eternal perspective
Eternal glory is the ultimate result
God Himself will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

13. I Pet. 5:10
Perfect: to put a thing in its appropriate condition, to restore set right, deficient in no part
Confirm: To stand, to set fast, to fix firmly
Strengthen: To make alive, to reinforce
Establish: To lay the foundation of anything. To ground
Application:
Therefore, God will put you in your appropriate condition and restore you so that you can stand. He will reinforce you AS you stand firm and He will ground you in the firm foundation of Christ, as you are living stones, building His church, exercising the gift He has given you.

14. 2 Peter
2 Peter begins January 10, 2019 where we will hand out books. Jan. 17th begins lesson 1
8 Week course so this ends March 7th
IF YOU WOULD LIKE:
Colossians/Philemon can begin March 14th and go until May 16th, with a week break for Spring break