(I Peter 5:5-10)

 

 

 

Pastor Rock Candito is a new friend to me; he is the pastor of the Christ Centered Baptist Church in Guihulngan on the island of Negros in the Philippines.

 

I have said to Pastor Rock, via e-mail, that he has a great name – Pastor Rock.  At that point I had just finished preaching the 20^th message in this series through I Peter.  So I was very interested that Pastor Rock has the same name as the apostle Peter or Petros, which means “rock”. 

 

I asked Pastor Rock if he was named after the great apostle.  He said, no, actually he was named after his dad’s favorite boxer Rocky Marciano and his mom’s favorite actor Rock Hudson.  Well, so much for the great spiritual illustration, but it is still a great name!

 

Pastor Rock now has the same name as Apostle Rock. 

 

What did the apostle Rock have to say as he winds down this first book?

 

He holds to the theme of encouragement for those who are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ and are now suffering – notice 4:19.

 

He speaks a strong (rock like) message to the pastors / elders who are caring for the flock – notice 5:1-4.

 

This sets the stage for the last concerns given in this book.

 

What would this strong, bold, quick speaking apostle want to bring home to close this off?

 

He is concerned that 5:10 will be accomplished.

 

The believers would be strong, firm, and steadfast.

 

That is very rock like – what I would expect.

 

But how do we accomplish this?

 

The first admonition is not very rock like; the second is very rock like.

 

It is so similar in all the epistles.

 

Almost identical to James 4:7, “Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you”

 

 

SUBMIT  (5:5-7)

 

RESIST (5:8-9)

 

 

Which are you better at – submitting or resisting?

 

We do practice both.

 

In fact, our heart is doing one or the other in relation to everything that is going on around us.

 

EVERYTHING!

 

Verse 5 starts our saying, “in the same way be submissive”.

 

In the same way as what?

 

In the immediate context, it is the way the shepherds submit to the Chief Shepherd.

 

The shepherds are doing one of two things concerning the Chief Shepherd.  They are either submitting or resisting.  They are going one way or the other in their hearts.

 

They don’t seem to be as distinct as we make them to be at times.  We think that I will not submit, but I also won’t resist.  It appears to me that if don’t submit, we will have to resist.  Or, if we resist, it means we will not submit.

 

Jonah – king of the resisters

 

Children of Israel – kin to Jonah the king of the resisters

 

Daniel – one of the great OT submitters

 

Mary – the noteworthy submissive Mother of Jesus the Christ

 

NT believers in the Lord Jesus are submitters – every one of them!

 

 

 

 

 

Kind of like driving – my accelerating and braking seem to be closely related.  I don’t do both at the same time.  I am doing one or the other, if I am going to get anywhere.  They are definitely distinct – ask Mike Bailey what happens when you push the accelerator and you are thinking that you are pushing the brake – things get kind of bizarre for a few minutes.  This is only second to the time when you hit the gas thinking you are going to go forward but you got her in reverse.

 

 

Submit and resist are very closely related and are at work right now; but there is another part of this that must come into focus:  There are some things I must submit to with all humility and there are other things that I must resist with all my strength.

 

Do I have the wisdom to recognize which is which?

 

What happens if a Christian tries to submit to God and to Satan at the same time?

 

What happens if a Christian tries to resist God and resist Satan at the same time?

 

Neither of these can really happen.

 

They are too closely related; even when there is not immediate response, be sure that the relationship is at work

 

(Maybe I can consult and serve other gods as well as the Lord God.  Two masters is not a possibility - MT 6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.)

 

1CO 10:18 Consider the people of Israel: Do not those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? 19 Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons. 22 Are we trying to arouse the Lord's jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

 

So wisdom is necessary to tell which is which.

 

(Don’t be fooled into thinking that this will be easy; but be assured that we will find the answers needed to gain wisdom if we humble seek)

 

Where did we get the idea that wisdom comes easily or without cost?

 

Salvation comes as an enormous gift, I humbly received.  The cost of my sin paid for by the blood of the Christ.

 

My discipleship and maturity in Christ has cost me everything.  What has it cost you?

 

Proverbs 2:1-12

 

 

What happens if a Christian resists God and submits to Satan?  God’s will is obliterated.

 

 

What happens if a Christian submits to God and resists Satan?  God’s good, and acceptable, and perfect will is accomplished.

 

 

The goal of the entire book of I Peter is accomplished:

 

 

    1PE 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

More detail will be given on what Peter said about the submitting and resisting – may God give us the wisdom to know when to put on the gas or hit the brake.