1. “Humble Yourselves” 1 Peter 5:1-11 January 3, 2010

2. I. Be shepherds of God’s flock. The elders are to serve as overseers. The elders are to serve as overseers. God wants us to serve willingly, rather than because we have to. God wants us to serve willingly, rather than because we have to. We are to be eager to serve, not greedy for money. We are to be eager to serve, not greedy for money.

3. I. Be shepherds of God’s flock. The elders are to be examples to the flock. The elders are to be examples to the flock. We are not to lord our oversight over those entrusted to us. We are not to lord our oversight over those entrusted to us. We will be rewarded by the Chief Shepherd with the crown of glory. We will be rewarded by the Chief Shepherd with the crown of glory.

4. II. Be submissive to those who are older. We are to be clothed with humility. We are to be clothed with humility. God opposes the proud. God opposes the proud. He gives grace to the humble. He gives grace to the humble. We are to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand. We are to humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand. He will lift us up in good time. He will lift us up in good time. We should cast all our anxiety on Him. We should cast all our anxiety on Him.

5. Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

6. James 4:7 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

7. Psalms 30:5 “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”

8. Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’”

9. III. Be self-controlled and alert. We are to stand firm in the faith. We are to stand firm in the faith. We are to resist the devil. We are to resist the devil. We should know that others are undergoing similar sufferings. We should know that others are undergoing similar sufferings. We are being called to eternal glory. We are being called to eternal glory. We will be restored after suffering for a little while. We will be restored after suffering for a little while. We will be made strong, firm and steadfast. We will be made strong, firm and steadfast.