Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter (Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14) (Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14)

Faith in the Faith in the CrosshairsCrosshairs

1 Peter1 Peter (Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14)(Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14)

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Shepherds and Sheep: God Shepherds and Sheep: God cares about the motives and cares about the motives and the attitudes as much as the the attitudes as much as the actionsactions

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• How to How to submitsubmit well well

• How toHow to suffer suffer wellwell

• How to How to lead/be lead lead/be lead wellwell

In all of these, Christ desires In all of these, Christ desires to to sanctifysanctify us us

1 Peter1 Peter

Clothe yourselves, all of you, Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one with humility toward one another, for "God opposes another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the proud but gives grace to the humble."the humble."

Humble yourselves, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt proper time he may exalt you, casting all your you, casting all your anxieties on him, because anxieties on him, because he cares for you.he cares for you.

Be sober-minded; be Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.someone to devour.

Resist him, firm in your faith, Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being kinds of suffering are being experienced by your experienced by your brotherhood throughout the brotherhood throughout the world. world.

And after you have suffered a And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.forever and ever. Amen.

By Silvanus, a faithful brother By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. Stand firm in it.

She who is at Babylon, who is She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.who are in Christ.

Clothe yourselves, all of you, Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one with humility toward one another, for "God opposes another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the proud but gives grace to the humble"the humble"

A call to humility for people A call to humility for people who are suffering? Why?who are suffering? Why?

Suffering can produce pSuffering can produce prideride, , sselfelf-centeredness and -centeredness and eentitlementntitlement

−Why me? It's not fair! I'm a Why me? It's not fair! I'm a good person. He isn't suffering good person. He isn't suffering and he's not even a very good and he's not even a very good Christian Christian

−She's doesn't even love Jesus She's doesn't even love Jesus and she's happyand she's happy

−A loving God wouldn't allow me A loving God wouldn't allow me to go through this. I don't need to go through this. I don't need God- it's his fault I'm hurting God- it's his fault I'm hurting right now!right now!

Root Causes:Root Causes:

−CComparisonomparison



−Unrealistic ExpectationsUnrealistic Expectations




−Unwillingness to take Unwillingness to take rresponsibilityesponsibility




−Unwillingness to take Unwillingness to take rresponsibilityesponsibility

−SSelfelf-deception-deception

Produces:Produces:

−EntitlementEntitlement

−Self-centerednessSelf-centeredness

−Unrighteous anger and Unrighteous anger and bitternessbitterness

−A string of broken relationships A string of broken relationships and shattered heartsand shattered hearts

Clothe yourselvesClothe yourselves, all of you, , all of you, with humility with humility towardtoward one one another, for "God opposes the another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the proud but gives grace to the humble"humble"

Clothe- egkombousthai- Clothe- egkombousthai- 1- 1- garment of servitude tied in a garment of servitude tied in a knot/a servant's apronknot/a servant's apron

−Jesus' garment while washing Jesus' garment while washing the disciples' feetthe disciples' feet

Clothe- egkombousthai- Clothe- egkombousthai- 2- 2- Putting on of a long garment Putting on of a long garment as a sign of as a sign of honorhonor and pre- and pre-eminenceeminence

−What serving is for a real What serving is for a real believerbeliever

Serving others as Jesus did Serving others as Jesus did andand considering it an considering it an honorhonor to do soto do so

"In suffering, don't become "In suffering, don't become self-absorbed. But be like self-absorbed. But be like Jesus towards one another Jesus towards one another by serving with humility as by serving with humility as your badge of honor"your badge of honor"

"Yeah, but while I’m "Yeah, but while I’m suffering, I need to be taken suffering, I need to be taken care of- not to serve care of- not to serve someone else"someone else"

BToLBToL: Healing never comes : Healing never comes from seeking attention and from seeking attention and demanding resources. demanding resources. Healing comes from serving Healing comes from serving others according to their others according to their needsneeds


Why?Why?


Why?Why?

Gets me outside myself and Gets me outside myself and allows God's power to work in allows God's power to work in me as he works through meme as he works through me

My dear children, let's not My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's just talk about love; let's practice real lovepractice real love. This is . This is the only way we'll know the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the God's reality. It's also the way to shut down way to shut down debilitating self-criticism- 1 debilitating self-criticism- 1 John 3:18-19 (Message)John 3:18-19 (Message)

Clothe yourselves, all of you, Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one with humility toward one another, for "God another, for "God opposes opposes the proud the proud but gives grace to but gives grace to the humble"the humble"

Pride and entitlement sever Pride and entitlement sever my connection to the source my connection to the source of my strength and healingof my strength and healing

Humble yourselves, Humble yourselves, thereforetherefore, under the , under the mighty mighty hand of God hand of God so that at the so that at the proper time he may exalt proper time he may exalt you, casting all your you, casting all your anxieties on him, because anxieties on him, because he cares for you.he cares for you.

Mighty hand= Mighty hand= deliverancedeliverance

……with a with a strong hand strong hand the the LORD has brought you out LORD has brought you out of Egypt- Exodus 13:9of Egypt- Exodus 13:9

……your people…whom you your people…whom you have redeemed through have redeemed through your greatness, whom you your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt have brought out of Egypt with a with a mighty handmighty hand- Deut. - Deut. 9:269:26

Humble yourselves, Humble yourselves, therefore, under the therefore, under the mighty mighty hand of God hand of God so that at the so that at the proper time he may proper time he may exalt exalt youyou

If God's people are humble If God's people are humble and trusting, he will deliver and trusting, he will deliver them out of or through them out of or through suffering- and bring suffering- and bring vindicationvindication

……casting casting all your all your anxietiesanxieties on on him, because he cares for him, because he cares for youyou

Casting-Casting- throw with force throw with force

Anxieties- Anxieties- draw in different draw in different directions, divide, distractdirections, divide, distract

When pride, self-centeredness When pride, self-centeredness and entitlement are present, I and entitlement are present, I take on all the trouble myself take on all the trouble myself and look to others for my and look to others for my salvationsalvation

−Causes anxiety which distracts Causes anxiety which distracts me from real life and pulls me me from real life and pulls me in different directions so that I in different directions so that I can't really livecan't really live

When humility rules, I trust When humility rules, I trust God and throw my anxieties God and throw my anxieties on him so that I can rest in his on him so that I can rest in his strong care for mestrong care for me

Buffet with the bearsBuffet with the bears

Buffet with the bearsBuffet with the bears

(You prepare a table before me (You prepare a table before me in the presence of my in the presence of my

enemies= enemies are still enemies= enemies are still there. But so is the buffet- there. But so is the buffet-

and my cup runs over)and my cup runs over)

Be clothed with humble service Be clothed with humble service towards others even while towards others even while sufferingsuffering

Humbly trust God's deliverance Humbly trust God's deliverance and throw your anxieties on and throw your anxieties on himhim

Trials are times of exponential Trials are times of exponential growth or spectacular failuregrowth or spectacular failure

• God says, "Come to me and God says, "Come to me and trust"trust"

• Satan says, "Get even. Get Satan says, "Get even. Get angry. Get full of yourself. angry. Get full of yourself. Get whatever you want- you're Get whatever you want- you're entitled"entitled"

Be sober-minded; be Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking a roaring lion, seeking someone to devoursomeone to devour

We have an eWe have an enemynemy

−Hates GodHates God−We are made in God's imageWe are made in God's image−Wants to dWants to destroyestroy that image that image

40% of Christians… 40% of Christians…

We have an eWe have an enemynemy

−Hates GodHates God−We are made in God's imageWe are made in God's image−Wants to dWants to destroyestroy that image that image

How? In context…How? In context…

−PPrideride and s and selfelf-centeredness-centeredness−Root of bitterness Root of bitterness thatthat defiles defiles

many many (Hebrews 12:15)(Hebrews 12:15)

Resist him, firm in your faith, Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same knowing that the same kinds of sufferingkinds of suffering are being are being experienced by your experienced by your brotherhood throughout the brotherhood throughout the worldworld

To resist the enemy is to also To resist the enemy is to also resist societal attitudes and resist societal attitudes and internal impulsesinternal impulses

Resist him, firm in your faith, Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of knowing that the same kinds of sufferingsuffering are being are being experienced by your experienced by your brotherhood throughout the brotherhood throughout the worldworld

Resist by trusting God fully and Resist by trusting God fully and by knowing that we are not by knowing that we are not alone in our sufferingalone in our suffering

Why is it important to know Why is it important to know that?that?

And after you have suffered a And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, his eternal glory in Christ, will will himselfhimself restore, confirm, restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.forever and ever. Amen.

……will will himselfhimself restore, restore, confirm, strengthen, and confirm, strengthen, and establish you establish you

Nothing escapes God's Nothing escapes God's notice- it will all be made notice- it will all be made right one dayright one day

Consolation of IsraelConsolation of Israel

……will will himselfhimself restore, restore, confirm, strengthen, and confirm, strengthen, and establish you establish you

• RestoreRestore

• ConfirmConfirm

• StrengthenStrengthen

• EstablishEstablish

Restore-Restore- set a fracture/mend set a fracture/mend nets/ supply what is missingnets/ supply what is missing

Repair the weakness of a Repair the weakness of a man's characterman's character

"She will be really great when "She will be really great when something happens to break something happens to break her heart"- Sir Edward Elgarher heart"- Sir Edward Elgar

The soft eyes of a mother who The soft eyes of a mother who lost her sonlost her son

Suffering is used by God to Suffering is used by God to "add the grace notes to life"- "add the grace notes to life"- BarclayBarclay

God…comforts us in all our God…comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by ourselves are comforted by God- 2 Cor. 1:4God- 2 Cor. 1:4

ConfirmConfirm- to make as solid as - to make as solid as granite, toughened like granite, toughened like steel tempered in the firesteel tempered in the fire

StrengthenStrengthen- fill with strength. - fill with strength. A tested muscle is a strong A tested muscle is a strong muscle, able to handle life muscle, able to handle life ahead in faithahead in faith

Establish- Establish- lay the foundations lay the foundations so that faith cannot be so that faith cannot be shakenshaken

Suffering that is met in faith, Suffering that is met in faith, with humility and with a with humility and with a willingness to serve willingness to serve produces solid character produces solid character with the strength to do with the strength to do what's right and a faith that what's right and a faith that can never be shakencan never be shaken

Suffering that is met in faith, Suffering that is met in faith, with humility and with a with humility and with a willingness to serve willingness to serve produces solid character produces solid character with the strength to do with the strength to do what's right and a faith that what's right and a faith that can never be shakencan never be shaken

2 Things:2 Things:−Not guaranteedNot guaranteed−Can only be had by sCan only be had by sufferinguffering

Greet one another with the Greet one another with the kiss of lovekiss of love

Peace and benevolence Peace and benevolence towardstowards

Greet one another with the kiss Greet one another with the kiss of loveof love

Peace and benevolence towardsPeace and benevolence towards

"What prayer is complete from "What prayer is complete from which the holy kiss is which the holy kiss is divorced? What kind of divorced? What kind of sacrifice is that from which sacrifice is that from which men depart without the men depart without the peace?"- Tertullianpeace?"- Tertullian

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Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter (Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14) (Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14)