1 Peter Chapter 5 Pt. 2 Order In The Church And Respect For Elders

The spirit of God guided Peter to write about God's purpose for the elders. We noted that an elder can be a pastor, teacher, or lay leader. 

Now the apostle is going to speak how we love one another with humility and respect toward those who are leaders in the local church.

Younger believers must learn to submit to elders in the church.

1 Peter 5:5  Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 

As a general rule, young people may be impatient, or may suffer from the "I know it all" syndrome. 

I know I certainly was deficient in both those areas, until the Lord regenerated my heart.

This is why Peter reminds younger people in general, to submit to elders in their church family. 

The word translated "submit" means to assume a subordinate position, or to arrange oneself under another's authority.

Now, children can learn to submit to parents because that "works best" for them, but they can be hiding a rebellious spirit on the inside. 

Peter does not want us to submit out of a sense of obligation. 

Rather, he wants us to have a willing submission to God, because He gave us the direction for submitting to elders. 

Peter goes on to tell us to submit to each other, which is part of loving one another, as Christ commanded.

Senior saints are to be role models for younger believers. 

Titus 2:1-8  But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2)  That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.  3)  The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4)  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5)  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6)  Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. 7)  In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8)  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 

Paul is running parallel with Peter regarding the subject of submission within local churches. 

Paul explains the duties of senior saints, those who have grown in faith and maturity in Christ. 

Older men must help younger men learn to become patient, loving, sober minded and well grounded in the scriptures. 

We must model or live out this character in our own lives. Christ likeness in us is connected to each older saint submitting themselves to God's Spirit, such that His fruit is evident in their character.

Older women must show younger women how to be godly wives, and godly mothers. 

The overall idea is nurturing younger saints, and helping each one to understand God's purpose and role for their lives. 

This beautiful truth shows us that God has a plan for Christians of all ages, and that older believers are needed to help the younger ones get on the right track spiritually. 

Believers must be meek and lowly, not high and haughty. 

Romans 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

Peter tells us to be clothed in humility. This means having lowlines of mind, and a sense of our own smallness in regard to other believers in Christ. 

In like manner, Paul reminds Christians not to think too highly of ourselves, but to be sober minded. 

Our culture is all about self conceit, self promotion, and self aggrandizement. These attitudes press in on us all the time. 

Therefore, we must aggressively resist having an inflated view of ourselves, and remember, that we deserve nothing from God. Yet, He gives us everything when we turn in repentant faith to Jesus. 

Take time to know your Pastor, teacher and lay leaders. 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 13  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 

There is a Spirit guided consistency in the truth communicated by the apostles of Jesus Christ. 

Paul also wrote about how members in the church should respond to the elders who are there to shepherd the flock rightly. 

Paul tells us to know our elders, pastors, teachers and lay leaders. 

Spend time with them so that you can see their motivation to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, by serving others and leading them in the ways of God.

The idea is that each Christian strive  to serve each other. Pastors strive to faithfully serve the people entrusted to their care, and the people should gladly support their pastors

At times, an elder may need to correct us as individuals, or as a local church body, and we must be willing to accept their guidance. 

We are to highly esteem our elders, who labor for the Lord. They carry many burdens and need our prayers and support. 

We must learn to humble ourselves, as God purges out dross from us. 

1 Peter 5:6-7  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

The Spirit of God tells us to humble ourselves under God's providential care, for He knows what is best for us. 

If He deems it best that we endure a trial or some trouble, we are confident that much good will be worked into us. 

If we do not humble ourselves under God’s grace, He will humble us under His judgments. 

Christians who patiently submit to the Lord, will be lifted up by Him in due time. 

If the Lord's hand is mighty to humble us, it is also mighty to lift us up, when His good purposes are accomplished in us.

James 4:7  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9  Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

James also spoke about our need to submit to God first. We must resist the Devil because he will flee from us. 

We resist him by drawing nigh to the Lord, confessing our sins, and receiving His forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:7 to 2:32).

Cleansed hands and purified hearts prepare us for spiritual warfare.

Yes, the Lord will chasten us when we need it. He will also do what it takes to purge out dross and impurities from our lives. 

As we lean upon the Lord in humble submission, He will bring us through the purging process, and lift us up again. 

Therefore, the apostle tells us to cast all of our cares upon the everlasting arms of Jehovah, not matter how big or how small. He loves us and cares for us. 

Whatever things concern a follower of God, whether they be spiritual or temporal, or whether in themselves great or small, God concerns Himself with them. 

What affects us affects Him and in all our afflictions He is afflicted. A Christian who knows that God cares for Him, need have no anxious cares about himself. 

Psalm 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

This is a plain reference to Psalm 55:22. Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain us. He will bear both us and our burden.

May these truths encourage each of us to walk closer with our Lord. Let us read and study His Word. Let us pray with fervency and fresh zeal. Let us seek to serve God more consistently this year.

Bob