1 PETER LESSON 8


     We will begin this lesson in I Peter 5:1 "The elders which are
among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the
sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be
revealed:"

     Peter is speaking to those who have some authority in this verse.
He separates them out from the average Christian, because their
responsibility is greater. He is aware that they are not only
responsible for themselves, but for the Christians in their
congregation. Peter related to them because of the great
responsibility of the church placed upon him.

     I Peter 5:2 "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the
oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy
lucre, but of a ready mind;"

     He is not speaking of physical food, but the food of the Word of
God. They are not to minister because of obligation to do so, but from
love of the brethren. The minister must desire to help others. This
should be his, or her, motivation for ministering, and not because
they are compelled to do it. Ministry is not an occupation, it is a
call.  Those who minister because of the salary they receive are not
in the ministry for the right reason. The call of God on ministers'
lives should be so great that they would minister if there was no
payment for it at all. We all know they need a salary to live, but it
should not be their reason for ministering.

     I Peter 5:3 "Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but
being ensamples to the flock."

     The high priest and the priest's office in the temple had been
used many times to rule over the people. This is not the way Jesus
taught the leaders of the Christians to be. The greatest among you
should be the servant, is what He taught. The ministers should not
glory in their authority, but should live godly lives before the
people as an example of how the people were to live. The requirements
for those in authority is greater than for the average Christian,
because they are operating in knowledge. James 4:17 "Therefore to him
that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin."

     I Peter 5:4 "And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away."

     The Chief Shepherd is Jesus Christ our Lord. Notice, the word
"receive" in the verse above. The crown belongs to Jesus, but He puts
it on our head. Jesus is Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
Anything He gave you, would be for all of eternity. When Jesus {Chief
Shepherd} appears means at the coming of Christ.

     I 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."

     This is saying that the Christian, who has been one for a long
time, has probably studied the Word of God more than one who is a new
Christian. It would be best for the new Christian to learn from the
elder. Those who believe they already know everything, can not be
helped. They are too proud to receive help. To humble yourself before
God is the first step to receiving from God. James 4:10 "Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

     I Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time:"

     Moses was one of the most humble men who ever lived, and we know
that God exalted Moses greatly. Moses was the only one God revealed
Himself to by bringing Moses to the mountain top for 40 days at a time
to fellowship with. Peter remembered the Lord Jesus' statement in Luke
14:11 "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted."  Matthew 18:4 "Whosoever therefore
shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the
kingdom of heaven."

     I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for
you."

     If the problem is too big for God to handle, it is far too big
for me to handle. We see how foolish it is on our part to try to take
the cares of the world upon our own shoulders. God is able to take
care of you and me. This is a beautiful promise from the Old
Testament.  Psalms 55:22 "Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall
sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."  The
righteous are His, because they have put on the righteousness of
Christ. Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for
your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your
body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the
body than raiment?"  Matthew 6:26 "Behold the fowls of the air: for
they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your
heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?"
Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

     I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:"

     The roaring lion, here, is speaking of the devil. The devil would
love to catch us unaware {not vigilant}. We must be like the 5 wise
virgins who stayed ready to meet their master. This does not mean that
you must stop living. It means that we must keep our sound mind
operating at full capacity. We should not take drugs, or get drunk on
alcohol and let our guard down. Be vigilant, ever watchful, lest you
be caught unprepared to meet Jesus. Notice, "as a roaring lion". The
old devil is not a lion, he is just trying to pretend that he is.
Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The devil would like to ruin
your life. Do not let him.

     I Peter 5:9 "Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the
same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the
world."

     "Steadfast" in the verse above, means rock-like firmness. We see
then, that our strength to withstand the devil must be in the name of
Jesus, and in the power of His shed blood. We must stand firmly on the
Rock who is Jesus Christ. The problems of the world may be swirling
around us, but the knowledge that we are built on the Rock will help
us have enough faith to stand. The world is built on the sand, and
when the storms come, they fall. Our faith in the power of Jesus will
keep us from harm. He {Jesus} fought the devil with the Word of God.
We must fight the devil the same way, with the Word of God.

     I Peter 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto
his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a
while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle [you]."

     It is by God's grace we are saved, not of our own doing. The
grace offered to every person by the crucifixion of Jesus on Calvary,
requires nothing to receive, except to believe in Jesus Christ. In
this life, we will have tribulation {suffering}. These troubles come
to make us strong in the Lord. The trials that we overcome establish
us in the faith. We grow in the grace of the Lord every time we face a
problem and overcome it by the Word of God.

     I Peter 5:11 "To him [be] glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Amen."

     The "Him" here, is the Lord Jesus Christ. The glory is not ours,
since we did nothing to receive the grace, but believe. The glory is
God's. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Philippians 2:10
"That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in
heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;"

     I Peter 5:12 "By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I
suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this
is the true grace of God wherein ye stand."

     Silvanus is the same person as Silas in Acts. Paul and Silas were
imprisoned together for the gospel. It is believed that he probably
was the one who brought this letter. Faithful brother, means that he
was a fellow Christian. The last words of Peter, here, explain that
the letter was brief, but was to "exhort" {call near} them in the
grace of God. Peter knew first-hand that this was the true grace of
God, that saves us all.

     I Peter 5:13 "The [church that is] at Babylon, elected together
with [you], saluteth you; and [so doth] Marcus my son."

     "Church" is the assembly of the believers. Babylon, is probably
not a literal name, but rather speaking of an evil city, perhaps Rome.
This could mean that the people {assembly of believers} are in an
alien city. Marcus, here, is probably not a son in the flesh, but is
probably Mark that Paul spoke of as well.

     I Peter 5:14 "Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace
[be] with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen."

     The kiss, spoken of here, is not a passionate kiss. This was a
kiss of fellowship between brothers, or sisters and brothers in
Christ. This was a kiss {probably on the cheek} of brotherly love.
Notice, who the peace is with. It is with those who are in Jesus
Christ. Jesus is the King of Peace. If we have Jesus in us, we are
full of peace.









































                          1 Peter 8 Questions


1.  What does Peter call himself in verse 1?
2.  What had Peter been a witness of?
3.  Who is Peter speaking to, in verse 1?
4.  Why does Peter separate them from the average Christian?
5.  Why could Peter relate to them?
6.  What did Peter tell them to do in verse 2?
7.  What should be their purpose in doing this?
8.  What kind of food is intended here?
9.  Ministry is not an __________, it is a call.
10. What should the ministers be to the flock?
11. The greatest among you should be the ___________.
12. Quote James chapter 4 verse 17.
13. Who is the Chief Shepherd?
14. When will the Chief Shepherd appear?
15. Younger submit yourselves unto the ________.
16. Be clothed with __________.
17. God resisteth the _________.
18. Quote James chapter 4 verse 10.
19. Quote 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 6.
20. Who was one of the humblest men who ever lived?
21. Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
22. Quote Psalms chapter 55 verse 22.
23. What was done for the fowls of the air that we can expect from
    God, if we are His?
24. Who is the Christian's adversary?
25. Who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah?
26. What does "steadfast" in verse 9 mean?
27. How can we fight the devil?
28. Why do Christians have tribulation?
29. Quote Philippians chapter 2 verse 10.
30. Who is Silvanus?
31. What does "exhort" from verse 12 mean?
32. What is the "church" in verse 13?
33. Babylon, in verse 13, is probably speaking of what city?
34. Who is Marcus in verse 13 {probably}?
35. What kind of kiss is verse 14 speaking of?