This week, Pastor Alex finished up our 1 Peter series with Chapter 5: 1-11.
Peter is addressing multiple groups of people in this passage; the elders and the young. Pastor Alex broke his message down into three categories:
The Flock
Peter tells the elders to exercise oversight by being examples to the young. The young and the old need each other in the church; as the young need an example of what a Godly life looks like. Without the conjunction of generations, we are doomed to repeat the past.
Humility is the way forward. It is “the only soil in which the graces root; the lack of humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect and failure. Humility is not so much a grace or virtue along with others; it is the root of all, because it alone takes the right attitude before God, and allows Him as God to do all.” (Andrew Murray).
The Adversary
As believers, we have to remember that we are at war. We need to actively build our spiritual muscles so that we can stand firm in our faith and endure suffering.
We need to keep our conduct honorable, glorifying God and doing good. We need to make time for Jesus, and not just fit Him in when it’s convenient. Being firm in your faith means you make time for your faith.
Devotion to Jesus is our primary defense we have to withstand the adversary. Anything less than a surrendered life leaves us vulnerable.
The Promise
In chapter 5 verse 10 the Lord promises He will “restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast”.
We are responsible for our response to the Lord, and we need to build and stretch our faith muscles.
