God's Ambassadors in the Devil's Domain

Scripture: John 21:11-17

C.I.: Christ's Ambassadors: As Both Leaders & Followers

Today we conclude our series on I Peter. – The twin themes of suffering and glory have been woven throughout these lessons.
In this final chapter Peter gives 3 exhortations to the Lord's people. – The statute of limitations has not run out on these commands!

•  Final Words to the Shepherds and the Sheep, (I Peter 5)

A. Shepherds: Be Faithful, ( vs. 1-4 ) – Faithfulness for the elders of a congregation demands several things…

1. It is only natural for Peter to talk to the leadership first. – For these are the men whom God has put into a
position to help the congregation during times of suffering, trials and persecutions!

2. In their Ministry, ( vs. 1-2a ), “I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ,
and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you.”

a. There are 3 Greek words which are translated into 6 English words – which refer to various functions.
1) Presbuteros = Elder/Presbyter; leadership is seen through their example and teachings.
2) Episkopos = Bishop/Overseer; sees the work gets done ( authority, responsibility, accountability ).
3) Poimane = Pastor/Shepherd; takes care of the needs of the flock ( feeding, guarding, protecting ).
b. That these functions all refer to the same office is seen in Paul's instructions to the Ephesian elders…
1) ( Acts 20:17 ), “From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church.”
2) ( Acts 20:28 ), “Be on guard for yourselves and for the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has made
you overseers , to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”
c. So in I Pt. 5:2a , these “elders” are to “shepherd” (guard/protect) the Lord's people when trials arise!
1) ( Jn. 10:11-13 ), “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. – He who
is a hireling, and not a shepherd, beholds the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf
snatches them and scatters them. – He flees because he is a hireling & is not concerned about the sheep.
2) The ministry of these leaders – includes sacrificing himself for the good of the Lord's people!

3. In their Motive, ( vs. 2b - 3 ), “…exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God;
and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor as yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be
examples to the flock.”
a. “Oversight” = leadership - But leadership does not mean dictatorship.
1) Jesus warned us about this, ( Matt. 20:25-27 ), “Jesus called the apostles unto Himself and said,
‘You know the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them & their great men exercise authority over them….”
2) It would not be wrong for us to pay for a full-time elder in the future – but greed is always sin!
b. A vital method of leadership – which Jesus always used – was to match His words to His example…
1) ( I Cor. 11:1 ), “Be imitators of me, as I also am of Christ.”
2) ( Heb. 13:7 ), “Remember those who lead you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the
result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
3) A faithful motive for a godly leader – is to show us by their own lives – how we ought to live!

4. In their Reward, ( v. 4 ), “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
a. During His earthly ministry, Jesus had to deal with religious leaders who sought their glory now.
1) ( Matt. 23:6-7 ), “They love the place of honor at banquets, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and
the respectful greetings in the marketplace, and being called by men, Teacher.”
2) Jesus response, however, to this is ( vs. 10-12 ), “Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader,
Christ. – But the greatest among you shall be your servant. – And whoever exalts himself shall be
humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”
3) So faithful leaders of the Lord's church are always essential – even more so than during trials!

B. Members: Be Humble, ( vs. 5-7 )

1. ( v. 5 ), “You younger men , likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one
another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
a. Peter has already spoken about the need for a submissive humility by the believers…
1) ( 2:13 ), “Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as one….”
2) ( 2:18 ), “Servants be submissive to your masters with all respect.”
3) ( 3:1 ), “In the same way, you wives be submissive to your own husbands….”
4) Therefore, the idea of Christian submission, now to each other, is not foreign to the believer.

2. The “Now & Then” reason for this is revealed in, ( vs. 6-7 ), “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of
God that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.”
a. The reason why many find it difficult to humble ourselves before others – is because we never learned
to humble ourselves before God!
1) As Tom Ratts said last week in our Bible class, “Idolatry is ‘I'!”
2) The submissive mind eliminates many of the “people problems” folks have.
3) ( Phil. 2:3-4 ), “Do nothing from selfishness and empty conceit, but with humility of mind….”
4) It is this “mind-set” that comes from understanding our Lord's example to us, ( Phil. 2:5-10 ),
“Have this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who although He existed in the form of God, He
did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself taking the form of a bond-
servant, and being made in the likeness of men. – And being found in the appearance of a man….”
5) In the same way “God highly exalted Him” – “at the proper time” He will later do for us!!!
b. Not only before each other – but we will also humble ourselves before God in prayer.
1) “Casting all your anxiety upon Him” = Give God everything in prayer, ( I Thess. 5:17 ).
2) If we only give God “some of our anxiety” (and we'll take care of the small stuff) – God
knows that we'll be back (when the “small stuff” grows into the major stuff!).
3) That God “cares for us” - is seen in its depths by our Lord's death on the cross. – As Paul
said in Rom. 8:33 , “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall
He not also with Him freely give us all things.”


C. Everyone: Be Watchful, ( vs. 8-11 )

1. Who better than Peter to warn us about the workings of Satan?! – Four things we can do to defeat Satan…
a. ( v. 8 ), “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking
someone to devour.”
1) “Devil” = Slanderer. – We've seen how he uses the unsaved to do his work…
2) ( 2:12 ), “Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the things in which they slander….
3) All of a believers problems originate from Satan. – So stay alert & you won't be surprised!
b. ( v. 9a ), “But resist him” = Individually, ( 2:23; James 4:7 ), “…entrusting” – “Submit therefore to God.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” - and Corporately, ( 3:8 ), “To sum up, let all be harmonious...”
c. ( v. 9b ), “…firm in your faith” = Keep trusting even if you feel like quitting, ( cf. Eph. 6:16 ), “Take up….”
d. ( v. 9c ), “Knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in….”
1) It's not that misery loves company – but merely that you are not being singled out for this!
2) If Satan can make you feel alone (or cause you to stay away from other believers) – chomp!!!

2. Peter concludes with the same “suffering then glory” theme he has used throughout this epistle!
a. ( vs. 10-11 ), “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal
glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
1) Those who remain “faithful” in the midst of suffering – will receive these various gifts!
2) So, we are “perfected, confirmed, strengthened & established” – BY SUFFERING in faith!!!
3) Therefore, the God who starts us in grace, ( Eph. 2:8 ) – is the One who keeps us by grace!

CONCLUSIONS: 1) Review, 2) We are saved by grace but at what point does He bestow His grace upon us, ( Mk. 16:16;
I Peter 3:21 ).