Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership, part 10. The mind of the Servant Jesus Christ. Isa 42:1-4; Col 3:13-17Title: Joshua and Judges: The doctrine of leadership part 10 - The mind of the Servant Jesus Christ. Isa 42:1-4; Col 3:12-17.
Announcements / opening prayer:
3. The Master's master principle: servant and slave of all.
Isa 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
The inner workings of the Servant: Dependence - He emptied Himself of the divine prerogative and became dependent on the Father to uphold Him.
Approval - "in whom My soul delights." The Father took great delight in His Servant Jesus and that delight was reciprocated, for Jesus delighted to do the Father's will.
Filled with the Spirit - He relied on the Holy Spirit to guide and empower Him in the commission given by the Father.
Isa 42:2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street.
Humility - instead of a noisy gong that ostentatiously self-proclaimed, He was quiet, gentle, and modest.
Isa 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
Compassion - He is compassionate and will save those whose inner and outer life is only hanging by a slender thread.
The Hebrew word for "bruised" means something that is cracked or a reed that is half broken already. The dimly burning wick is one that is very nearly extinguished.
The reference is a general one, to those whose inner and outer life is only hanging by a slender thread. In the statement that in such a case as this He does not completely break or extinguish, there is more implied than is really expressed.
Not only will He not destroy the life that is dying out (which describes every man, no matter what sight may say, but He will actually save it. He came to seek and to save those who are broken.
How often a leader just steps or runs over the weak and the failing. The spiritual leader who has no time and compassion for the weak is not spiritual.
We saw that our Lord, when He desired to be alone with His Father and He was followed by a multitude, that He felt compassion on them and healed their sick.
It is easier to pass by and put the weak and needy out of your mind then to take the time to assist a broken person, whether he is a believer or not.
Col 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;
Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
Col 3:14 And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.
Col 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Isa 42:1 "Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.
Isa 42:2 "He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street.
Isa 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
Isa 42:4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law."
Strength from trust - He is confident that He will complete the work. He has optimism and hope and from this gains an insurmountable tenacity.
Optimism is a function of faith. Optimism or hope is a wonderful characteristic in any believer and certainly in a spiritual leader. We all know of the type that is ready to give up at the first hint of difficulty. When God is directing the battle we can confidently say that we don't know how it's going to work, the how is up to God, but we know it's going to work!
Robert Browning described the courageous optimist:
One who has never turned his back, But marched breast-forward, Never doubting clouds would break, Never dreamed, though right were worsted, Wrong would triumph [Browning]
The Hebrew says that He will not become weak of heart or broken in strength. He saves the half-broken reed, but He cannot be broken until He has finished the work of salvation.
He could not be crushed by man. Though they severely abused His body they could not alter His desire. He knew He would complete the work. He was crushed by the Father for the sins of the whole world, but this did not break His strength to continue. He did not quit. He did not sin. He persisted until the work was finished.
Paul faced an incredible amount of trouble on his missionary journeys but he kept going.
Rom 15:28 Therefore, when I have finished this [bringing the donation to Jerusalem], and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
2Co 11:16 Again I say, let no one think me foolish; but if you do, receive me even as foolish, that I also may boast a little.
2Co 11:17 That which I am speaking, I am not speaking as the Lord would [boasting], but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.
2Co 11:18 Since many boast according to the flesh, I will boast also.
The Corinthians are attracted to those who boast in the flesh, so Paul says, "I'll boast too." Paul is extremely hesitant and embarrassed to do so, but he thinks it may help deliver the church, which, as he states in this passage (verse 28), is his main burden in life.
2Co 11:19 For you, being so wise, bear with the foolish gladly.
2Co 11:20 For you bear with anyone if he enslaves you, if he devours you, if he takes advantage of you, if he exalts himself, if he hits you in the face.
The corrupt in mind elect for themselves corrupt leaders after their own desires and they get what they paid for, even to smiting on the face.
They tolerated tyranny, extortion, craftiness, arrogance, violence, and insult. Sarcasm that cut to the bone. The climax of insult, smiting on the face.
Those who choose evil leaders are themselves used and abused by those leaders. They reap what they sowed.
History is filled with examples of this.
Paul uses sharp sarcasm in the hope of snapping the Corinthians out of the fog that they have surrounded themselves with.
Paul is taking a page out of Proverbs:
Pro 26:5 Answer a fool as his folly deserves, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
2Co 11:21 To my shame I must say that we have been weak by comparison [extreme irony]. But in whatever respect anyone else is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am just as bold myself.
Fools are incredibly stupid and they never think things through. As things look on the surface or how they look at a quick glance is enough for the fool and he will base all his knowledge on that.
The Corinthians thought that Paul's meekness was weakness, when it was really strength. And they thought that the Judaizers' arrogance was power.
The meek believer is trusting in the Lord while the arrogant boaster trusts in the flesh. He trusts in his own flesh and hopes in the flesh of others to respond and admire him.
2Co 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
2Co 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as if insane) I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death.
2Co 11:24 Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
2Co 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep [the memory survives like a nightmare].
Flogging with a whip or rods was forbidden to a Roman citizen yet Paul endured them perchance it might open more doors for the gospel. This is an incredible love of the gospel and his ministry that all of us should ponder deeply.
The shipwreck that is recorded in Act 27 happened after he wrote this letter so we would conclude that he was shipwrecked four times. We know nothing of these three shipwrecks.
2Co 11:26 I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren;
2Co 11:27 I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
The Judaizers visited the safe places; Paul journeyed to the difficult places. But Paul was no ordinary traveler he was a marked man. He had enemies among both the Jews and the Gentiles, and some would like to have killed him.
Surely no man ever found glory in such a peck of troubles as Paul has here recounted. His list should shame us all today who are disposed to find fault with our lot in life.
2Co 11:28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure upon me [like the pressing of a mob] of concern for all the churches.
The great leader has the heart of a shepherd.
His #1 concern is the health and prosperity (soul) of the flock.
2Co 11:29 Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern?
"intense concern" - puro,omai [puroomai] = to glow with fire or with heat.
Paul's concern for those in the churches glows within him like a fire. When one is led away from the throng by sin and evil that fire burns with compassion and prayer.
2Co 11:30 If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness [the sufferings listed above].
The false teachers and leaders that have infected the Corinthians cannot boast of any such weaknesses since they are ministers from Satan and his world. They only suffer as ministers of Satan, which is weakness of heart and soul. Satan hates them just as much as he hates the children of God. He is just using them. They cannot suffer in the way that Paul and other servants of God suffer.
2Co 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying [since such a list in the life of one man seems improbable].
2Co 11:32 In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me,
2Co 11:33 and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.
Difference between servant of Satan and God: From the ancient city where he was sent with great authority to conquer the Christian community his lot has changed to being secretly let out of a window in the wall to escape arrest.
Such is the commission from Satan against God and the commission of God to save and deliver mankind.
Isa 42:3 "A bruised reed He will not break, And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
Isa 42:4 "He will not be disheartened or crushed, Until He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law."
His zeal will not be extinguished, nor will anything break His strength, till He shall have secured for right a firm standing on the earth.
The contrast is just beautiful. In order to save the broken hearted He cannot become faint of heart. In order to save the dimly burning wick His zeal cannot be extinguished and it was not. While the Bible tells us that He was crushed for our iniquities, He was never broken. He said, "It is finished," from the cross - alive! And then and only then did He give up His spirit.
The spiritual leader cannot be a pessimist. He must have hope in God and optimism that he will accomplish what God has called him to do. When things look like they may fail he must not despair. If he despairs it is more likely that those under him will also.
Summary of My Servant: Dependence, approval, filled with the Spirit, humility, compassion, strength from trust, and zeal.
4. The leader must travel the course and not just point the way.
Spiritual leadership requires the leader to personally execute the plan of God for his own life. His leading and teaching will be far less effective if he himself has not travelled the road of the high lands.
We can only lead others as far along the road as we ourselves have traveled. Merely pointing the way is not enough.
1Co 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
1Co 9:25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Co 9:26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
1Co 9:27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified [adokimazo].
I've known some parents who are great at telling their kids what is right to do and not do but do not themselves live that way. It doesn't take long for a child to figure that out and then he has no real leader. Sending someone ahead to a place that you have not explored is not leading. You must be heading to that place yourself if you are going to actually lead someone there.
There are a million articles and books that have been written on leadership. Countless people have developed lists of good leadership characteristics of which there are about fifty at current. Fortunately we have only to study the aspects of spiritual leadership and we will stick with the scriptures.
5. Is there a type of person that makes a good leader? No. The apostles chosen by our Lord were of many different types.
If someone else were in Jesus' sandals and had to pick a twelve man team to assist him in building a spiritual organization, where would he look? He might go to the already established clergy, he might pick a financial guru, a management expert, etc., in other words he would likely pick a team who already had a stellar reputation for religious service, directing, advising, and managing. Yet Christ didn't do that.
Christ chose from the ranks of common working men, fishermen, for the majority of His twelve, but He also chose a tax gatherer and a Pharisee.
It is significant that the majority of His choices were working men of the time and not the educated elite. Yet we would not say that the uneducated make the best leaders, but that some of the educated, having their minds spoiled by falsehood have little potential for great leadership. It isn't likely that the fishermen were chosen because they were workers, but that they were unspoiled by religion and legalism and that Jesus saw something in them that no one else saw - their potential. And, added to that is the fact that they are each hard workers. It is interesting that several of them are related and that James and John are related to Jesus, but it is difficult to infer anything of substance from that.
So, being careful not to imply anything uncertain in reference to Christ's choosing of His leaders, we would conclude:
He chose those whose hearts were not spoiled by false doctrines, who had potential that only the Son of God sees, and that they were willing to follow Him and lay down their lives for Him.
When we refer to potential we are of course taking into account that God had given them a spiritual gift that would empower them in their endeavor.
Eph 4:11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,
Eph 4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;
Eph 4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.
But what if the chosen twelve were unwilling to use their spiritual gift to equip the saints? If that was the case then the given gifts would be meaningless to serve anyone. Judas Iscariot was chosen to be one of the twelve, a great gift indeed, but he refused it. We would not conclude that Judas had a spiritual gift as an unbeliever, but he was given a great gift, being chosen as one of the twelve. He rejected that gift and was of no service to anyone.
So then, the leaders that God chooses are not of a particular personality or profession or social class, but those in whom He sees the potential of the given gift, the willingness to grow in grace and knowledge and serve in humility and to have the proper motivation and patience to understand that if they are not promoted it is only because God has not done so, or at least not yet, and they are perfectly content with that.
6. Insights on leadership from Peter, 1Pe 5:1-7.
Since we have studied 1Pe 4:1-6 in this study I would like us to see 1Pe 5:1-7 in the context of that.
1Pe 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh [gone through suffering for the sake of Christ] has ceased from sin [from sin nature dominance over their lives],
Passive: "has been released from sin,"
1Pe 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Pe 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
1Pe 4:4 And in all this, they are surprised [think it foreign] that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;
1Pe 4:5 but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead [in heaven], that though they are judged in the flesh as men [unfair treatment from the world], they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
No amount of persecution could stop the saints that have gone before us from producing fruit and going into heaven to be in the presence of the Lord.
1Pe 4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment [sober minded] and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
"sober spirit" - nhfw, [nepho] = free from intoxicants, to be calm and collected in spirit.
That is, a calm and collected spirit is conducive to the act of praying. It results in prayer. The Christian who is always on a tear, whose mind is crowded with fears and worries, who is never at rest in his heart, does not do much praying.
Peter sees here the heart of man, one that he knows well, in which if they were to hear that the end of all things is at hand they would go on a tear, get drunk, riot in the streets, and other reactions like these, whereas he commands that we be something else than that which is common. We are to be sober minded, calm and collected in spirit, and praying; being always at the ready to pray.
1Pe 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
fervent - evktenh,j [ektenes] = stretched out. Love is extended to reach the one loved. Instead of a self-centered life, he gives himself to others.
Love is a prerequisite to all proper exercises of Christian duty. Courtesy without love is a cold thing. Generosity without love is a harsh thing. Love makes all the other virtues what they should be, and that is why all other virtues can been found in the definition of agape love.
The reason for this exhortation to love one another is that love covers a multitude of sins. That is, when one Christian truly loves his fellow Christian, he will not publish abroad his failings, but will cover them up from the sight of others. Gossip is eliminated when we love each other.
1Pe 4:9 Be hospitable [friendly to strangers] to one another without complaint.
At the time inns were few, expensive, and usually of a low moral character. Plus, Christians were often persecuted and denied services. When Christians travelled they were to be offered lodging with other Christians.
1Pe 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
"special gift" - ca,risma [charisma] = a gift of grace [charis]. Here it is the grace gift given by the HS at salvation for service in the common good.
Each one has received a charisma for the purpose of employing it in the service of one another. We do this as good stewards of the manifold, or various, grace of God. There is only one grace of God but it manifests itself in many, many ways. Manifold can be viewed as multicolored. There are a variety of gifts, ministries, and effects and in each the grace of God is manifested. Grace refers to all that God has done and given, which in every case is freely given.
"steward" - ovikono,moj [oikonomos; oiko = house; nemo = to arrange] the head of a particular branch of a great house. He is entrusted with the care of his particular branch.
This could be the house manager, the head cook, the head butler, the accountant, etc. Some even assumed the responsibility for the children of the house who had not yet come of age. It is interesting to note that they were often slaves; slaves with granted authority.
This emphasizes that they do not own anything yet they have been entrusted with the care of what is not theirs.
The grace of God, the gifts from God, the spiritual gift, and the entire inheritance in Christ given at salvation all belongs to God. Yet, you have been entrusted with the care of whatever it is that God has given you. If you love the Master of the house, if you love His house, if you love His other stewards, if you love the things in His house that He has graciously gifted you with then you will strive to take excellent care of those things and to do so as one pleasing to the Master, obeying His commands.
1Pe 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved [divinely loved ones], do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
fiery ordeal - the smelting furnace in which gold is purified. Christian suffering purifies and concentrates the divine gifts within.
God allows these things in order to purify our gifts in our own perspective. It's not that the gifts can be made better, but that our understanding of them and our willingness to use them can. In any situation we always have the choice of relying on the grace of God, His word and His Spirit, or to function in the flesh. The trials enable us to see the purity and power of the things that God has given us and at the same time to see the weakness and pain of sin and human energies or solutions. In the smelting furnace one is forced by heat and pressure to do something, whether good or evil.
"happening to you" - a word that means "to go together," or "to come together." This verb shows us that nothing just happens in the life of a Christian. All is orchestrated by God's directive, permissive, and overruling will.
1Pe 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
So instead of thinking it alien to them they should actually rejoice. There is no reason to rejoice in suffering that is brought on us by our own bad decisions, but when we suffer Christ's sufferings there is great reason to rejoice.
Col 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ's afflictions.
If the church were to never suffer Christ's afflictions that would mean it functioned, operated, and witnessed all things worldly. That would mean it is just as the world is and in full agreement with it. The same would be true of the believer.
1Pe 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ [and you are], you are blessed [it is an indication of your spiritual life], because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
"rests" = to give rest ["come to Me…and I will give you rest]. The HS gives rest upon the spiritual believer who is in the midst of being reviled for Christ's name.
The word is a technical agricultural term for when a farmer plants a light crop on his land. He relieved the land of the necessity of producing heavy crops, and thus gave it an opportunity to recuperate its strength. The word is used in Mat 11:28 where our Lord says, "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest," literally, "and I will rest you." Here our Lord causes the sinner who comes to Him to cease from his own efforts at carrying his load of guilt and suffering. In the midst of persecution for the sake of Christ, the Holy Spirit will place rest upon the believer who does not grieve or quench Him.
1Pe 4:15 By no means let any of you suffer [context: reproach from others] as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
"troublesome meddler" - avllotrioepi,skopoj [allotrioepiskopos] = a self-appointed overseer in other men's matters.
It is a compound word made up of allotrios (belonging to another person) and episkopos (overseer). It is a busybody or a meddler in other people's affairs, but with episkopos we get the nuance of a self-appointed authority in the matters of other people's lives. Not even the true episkopos is to meddle in another person's personal affairs.
1Pe 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.
The words, "but if any man suffer as a Christian" should be understood in their historical background. The Cult of the Caesar was the state religion of the Roman empire, in which the emperor was worshipped as a god. This served two purposes. The subjects of Rome gave obedience to the laws of the empire, not only as a political, but as a religious duty. It also constituted the unifying factor which bound the many different peoples of the empire into one, and made the military task of holding together its far-flung domain an easier one. The Greek word for Caesar is Kaisar. Those who worshipped the Kaisar were called Kaisarianos. Christianity appeared as a rival claimant to world worship and dominion. The Lord Jesus, the Messiah of Israel, was looked upon in the Christian Church as the One who would someday come back and take the government of the world upon His shoulder. Those who worshipped Him as God were called Christianos, worshippers of the Christ as against the Kaisarianos, worshippers of the Caesar. Rome saw that the imperialism of Christianity was challenging the imperialism of the Caesars, and that it was by its propagation, striking at the very vitals of the empire. It answered this by many bloody persecutions. It meant and cost something to be a Christianos in those days. The members of the Imperial Cult looked down upon and persecuted the members of the Body of Christ. That is what Peter means when he says, "but if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed." He remembered that awful night when he cowered before the might of Rome and denied his Lord. But Peter the Rock-Man would never do such a thing now. [Wuest]
1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment [persecution from the world allowed by God to purify the spiritual life] to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved [delivered and so purified], what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
It is acknowledged here that the process of purification of the believer's heart in growth to maturity is difficult. The word also means "scarcely," revealing that there are few who walk through this narrow gate. The difficulty is the persecution and the pressure and heartache it brings upon the believer. But as the next verse states, we can trust God to take care of us no matter how difficult it gets.
If God allows persecution to purify the life of the saint and thus he is delivered, not only from within the persecution itself, but also from OSN mastery, then what will be action of God against the man who rejects Christ?
As the household of God is persecuted and purified Christ is manifested to the world through the church and only after that manifestation is the unbeliever judged. Then Peter uses the very fact that God allows persecution to come upon the church, and if He does, what will be the judgment of the unbeliever?
1Pe 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust [banking term - give in charge as a deposit] their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
I find that the context of a passage can get lost when we pause at each verse to study it in more detail. It is of vital importance that we understand scripture in context, therefore, now that we have studied chapter four in a bit of detail, we shall re-read it all together in order to understand it more fully.
1Pe 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
1Pe 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1Pe 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousals, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
1Pe 4:4 And in all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation, and they malign you;
1Pe 4:5 but they shall give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
1Pe 4:6 For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
1Pe 4:7 The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
1Pe 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.
1Pe 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.
1Pe 4:10 As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1Pe 4:11 Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
1Pe 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing; so that also at the revelation of His glory, you may rejoice with exultation.
1Pe 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.
1Pe 4:15 By no means let any of you suffer as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;
1Pe 4:16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God.
1Pe 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?
1Pe 4:19 Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.
1Pe 5:1 Therefore, 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,
"elders" - presbu,teroj [presbuteros] = advanced in age or life, senior. Those with authority in the church with emphasis on their spiritual maturity.
The word we have seen before in 1Ti 3 is episkopos which is properly translated overseer. While episkopos emphasizes the position of authority, presbuteros emphasizes the maturity of those in those positions. There are a plurality of elders in any church, meaning the pastor, the deacons, and the administrators in all areas. In some cases there can be more than one pastor as the pastor is called to train up other men in the ministry, yet there is always one in authority, the pastor.
Notice that Peter does not approach his readers from on high, as a virtuoso apostle. Rather, he takes the position of a fellow elder, coming alongside the others, and bearing similar burdens.
Peter neither claimed nor assumed any higher position than that of an ordinary elder in the Church.
And as a witness of the sufferings of Christ he is not only referring to the fact that he has seen them but that he has been called to bear testimony of them. He failed greatly during the sufferings of Christ by denying Him, but the love of God overcame that as Christ suffered in the flesh on behalf of Peter and all mankind.
1Pe 5:2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
"shepherd" - poimai,nw [poimaino] = to act as a shepherd; tending, feeding, guiding, guarding the flock of God. The noun form is translated "pastor."
Oversight is the verb form of overseer (episkopos). It means to look carefully over in a concerning and protecting way, just as a shepherd would over his flock. Yet this is God's flock, and therefore, how much more should the pastor, deacon, administrator, parent, husband, etc. look over them?
They are not to be forced to do so. They can be forced by a lust for something like prestige or money and so because they serve their idol they are doing so under compulsion from the same. Peter says here that they are to do so voluntarily, meaning, from proper motivation.
Sordid gain is base gain or filthy gain. God sees functioning in life for money, and especially pretending at the spiritual life for money, as filthy gain. Rather than serving the idol of wealth they are to do so with eagerness. And, they are not to do so with some kind of high handed, autocratic rule.
1Pe 5:3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
God ordained, properly exercised authority should be administered by leadership, but it should not be without love and therefore tyrannical.
1Th 5:12-13 But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
1Ti 5:17-18 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing," and "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
1Pe 5:3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
Allotted to your charge reveals that God gives an allotment or a church as He has determined. Within that church God has ordained a pastor, maybe pastors in training, deacons, and administrators in all areas (secretaries, board members, prep-school teachers, heads of building needs like cleaning, etc.). The pastor has the ultimate authority, but other authorities are delegated and to all of them, as a sub-unit of the entire organism of the church, they have been allotted a local assembly.
Literally - Neither as lording it over the heritage (allotment) - kleros, where we get the word "cleric" which evolved to "clerk".
All under-shepherds should be living patterns of the Chief Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ.
"example" - tu,poj [tupos] = impression, seal, stamp made by a die. Elders are to be living examples of Christ.
Remember the one instance where Christ uses the word "example" and it was when He washed the disciples' feet. He used word that means to trace letters or to make a copy by hand. This word means a stamp. Whether the image is traced by hand or stamped by press it is the original image that is of importance.
Now Peter turns to the reward.
1Pe 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
The crown is the Greek stephanos which was a crown of victory in the Greek athletic games. It was also given for military valor and it was a festal garland worn at wedding feasts. Each of these have great application to the believer who is an overcomer. It was constructed of ivy or oak leaves and in the case of weddings it was made of flowers. Each one of these faded with time, but the crown that Christ gives as reward will not fade one bit for all of eternity. Whether it is a literal crown in eternity we cannot determine. It is interesting to note that Paul sees his crown as the souls that he won and the believers who grew up under his teaching.
1Th 2:19-20 For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.
Php 4:1 Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, so stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.
Some have categorized this mention of a crown in a different category and present the crown of glory, crown of righteousness, crown of life, and this, labeled the incorruptible crown, as all different, yet each one applies to one life, the life of the overcomer. It is not a point of contention. Yet what Paul indicates in 1Th 2:19-20 is that he did not do what he did in service of God for some material crown in heaven that he could show off.
In other words, he wasn't in it for material rewards, on earth or in heaven. His converts were his reward. His mature believers were his reward, and therefore, his service was his reward. For who is great in the kingdom of God?
It is not consistent to say that one serves God without thought of material gain and at the same time have thought of material gain in heaven.
1Pe 5:5 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.
Since the elders refer to those promoted by God to positions of leadership it refers to maturity and not exactly age, although often the two go hand in hand because it takes so long to grow up spiritually. Therefore the younger men would refer to those not yet promoted or to groups of youths that were attending local assemblies. We know of youth organizations in Greek cities of Asia Minor and it would not be hard to imagine that the churches also had something similar. There were large families then and the churches likely had many youth. They were to show respect and obedience to their leaders.
I always love the opportunity to quote this passage:
2Ki 2:23-24 young lads came out from the city [Bethel] and mocked him [Elisha] and said to him, "Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!" When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the Lord. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number.
Bethel was the chief seat of the idolatrous calf worship and these boys were heavily influenced by their parents in this trade. They knew Elisha and came out to mock him. Again we see the calamity of bad leadership, in this case in the parents, and that children who go the way of their fathers in evil will reap the sins of the fathers.
"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility," starts another sentence and it should be marked as another verse. All - young and old, mature and immature, are to clothe themselves with humility.
1Pe 5:5b and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Clothe refers to putting on an apron of humility. The noun of this verb refers to a slaves apron, much like the one that Christ put on to wash the disciples' feet.
Peter had something similar in mind when he opened the letter: 1Pe 1:13 Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The exhortation is to put on humility as a working virtue which would make all the other virtues what they should be, thus workable in the Christian scheme of things. The other virtues such as kindness, generosity, justice, goodness, long-suffering, when saturated with humility, are most acceptable and praiseworthy, but when seen in a proud person, are like noisy gong or clanging cymbal.
1Pe 5:5b and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Opposed is a military term used for an army drawn up for battle. The proud face God in battle while the humble receives God's gifts with gratitude.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
There is a subtle but vital correction that must be made here. The verb "humble" is in the passive voice. It is translated as if it is in the middle voice and so the object "yourselves" is added.
"Humble" - tapeino,w [tapeinoo; aorist, passive, imperative] = low lying, humble. "Be humbled by God…"
It is "suffer yourselves to be humbled by God" and not an action that I take alone. Naturally our volition in involved in learning the word of God and being filled with the Holy Spirit, but it is God who is doing the humbling and we must be in agreement to let Him.
We must not forget the context. How is God humbling them? The humbling process which God was using was the persecution and suffering through which these Christians were passing. Allowing themselves to be humbled would therefore mean to remain under the suffering and not seeking for human solutions for alleviating the pressure.
It also includes the suffering of divine discipline, which God brings upon us at the proper time from the source of His love. Divine discipline has the effect of humbling us.
Heb 12:11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
The process of divine discipline should be comforting for the fact that it produces humility which is needed for yielding the fruit of righteousness. In other words, God brings us low, away from the false precipices of our pride so that He may then exalt us from the foundation of humility at the proper time. His exaltation is the only true one since only from that vantage do we produce the fruit of righteousness. Human exaltation is not based on perfect righteousness and therefore it is a hollow shell, all shiny on the outside but empty within. Knowing that we are lovingly held in this process should comfort us as we know that God is working for us and not against us.
Therefore, whether being persecuted for righteousness' sake or being under the chastening hand of God we are to cast all of our anxiety and cares upon Him.
Persecution or discipline is a fertile ground for the sin or worry or anxiety.
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
All means the whole of your anxiety. We are not to keep a portion of it for ourselves.
Cast is a word that means "having deposit with." It refers to a direct and once and for all committal to God of all that would give us concern.
Peter says here that you are God's number one concern. Humility accepts that concern and so anxiety or worry is a contradiction to humility.
The pressures of leadership can cause us to worry, but when we do, we are exalting ourselves as leaders rather than God.
Unbelief is, in a sense, an exalting of self against God in that one is depending upon self and failing to trust God. Why worry therefore, if we are His concern. He is more concerned about our welfare than we could possibly be. Furthermore, since the humbling process has been allowed to come to us in the permissive will of God, and He is using it to accomplish His purpose in our lives, He has it under His control and us in His care. In it all He is concerned about us, therefore, again, why worry?
1Pe 5:1 Therefore, 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,
1Pe 5:2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
1Pe 5:3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
1Pe 5:5 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.
1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
1Pe 5:7 casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.
Leader: Does not exalt himself over other leaders. Tends, feeds, guides, and protects God's flock with eagerness. Is in the pattern of TLJC. Is rewarded. Is clothed with humility. All worry is cast upon the Lord.
Courage p. 60
Patience p.71
Organization and procrastination p. 74
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