Alert Living -- Beware the Devil -- Peter's Warning in 1 Peter 5:1-11
- mww
- Oct 27, 2016
- 14 min read
Satan is real, and Satan wants to destroy us.
Bible Study Ideas and Commentary for 1 Peter 5:1-11
Humility. Pastors are to serve their churches in humility, members submit to pastors and serve one another. Why? Because that’s what it takes to resist the Devil. We need to put on the “servant’s towel” in our church family. Who can we encourage? Who can we support? And do it all to the glory of God.
Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, (5:8)
Getting Started: Things to Think About
Weather Watch vs Weather Warning.
[This comes straight from the Lifeway material. I really liked it.] What’s the difference between a weather “watch” and a “warning”? Do you think people consider what the Bible has to say about Satan as more of a watch or a warning? What a great question! Here’s how you might approach it: ask how seriously your group members take weather alerts. My guess is that now that we get so many, they probably take them not-so-seriously. Ask what it takes for them to really heed a weather alert; how imminent does the damage have to be for them to take cover? Well, Satan is the master desensitizer. He knows how to lull humans into a false sense of security. My guess would be that most of our people treat Satan like a “weather watch”, knowing there’s a threat out there but not taking it too seriously. What would it take for us to take Satan seriously? A crisis? Catastrophe?
The Worst Jobs for Money-Hungry People to Take.
I'm still trying to work out how this one could go; it makes sense in my head . . . Ask your group, what are the worst jobs to take if you just want to get rich? There are a few ways you could answer that. For example, if I found out that my doctor were only in it for the money, I would probably be pretty upset! (But the sacrifices and hours and challenges are such that I doubt that too many money-hungry people actually make it into practice.) But if I found out that my financial advisor were only in it for the money, I would be okay with that. That job makes money when he does a good job for me. Another way you could answer it is from the hidden costs: it might look like an easy way to make money on the outside, but when you really get into it, it’s rough work. Like public school teaching, or youth ministry, or postal service. In other words, “If you’re trying to get rich, you’ve gone into the wrong line of work.” And then there are the jobs where I’d just be disappointed to hear that the person was only in it for the money. In particular, I think of government representatives and agency heads and judges. Those are positions that can really make a difference if those people are in it for the right reason. To hear that someone took a job like that only for the money would make me very sad. But there’s one job that takes all of those bad reasons and compounds them: pastor. I went to school with some people that I truly believe thought they were getting into an easy paycheck. Well, first, I doubt they made it that long in ministry. (Note: you may have to be an advocate for your staff if there are people in your group who don’t know how much work goes into the various parts of our staff work here. If you need backup, contact me this week and David or I can visit your group for a bit to talk about the work of ministry.) But most importantly, God has said that He will hold pastors accountable for our work. We do not want to tell God we were in ministry for the money. Trust me.
This Week's Big Idea: Satan (The Devil)
The reason the “Church Lady” skit went as long as it did on Saturday Night Live (apart from Dana Carvey) is how easy it was. Just take all of the silliest stereotypes of church people and mash them together. One of those stereotypes is how some church people tend to blame everything on Satan, so much so that he’s become little more than the boogeyman, the ultimate spiritual scapegoat. But the boogeyman doesn’t really exist, and a scapegoat is simply a cop-out. Consequently, not so many people in America take Satan seriously.
And in a culture that ignores the supernatural, that’s just the way he likes it. Imagine being able to go anywhere and do anything and be ignored the whole time simply because the people around you didn’t think you existed . . .
But Peter tells us that Satan is real, prowling about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. So, how much in life should we blame Satan for? “Satan” -- which means “adversary” -- is used as a proper name for a particular angelic being in Job 1-2, Zech 3:2, and 1 Chron 21:1; Jesus uses the parallel name in Matt 4:10, Matt 12:26, and Matt 16:23. In reading the entire Bible, we realize that Satan is the chief of all fallen angels who led a rebellion against God apparently out of pride. Nowhere in the Bible are we given the impression that Satan is remotely equal to God in power or is any kind of a real threat to God’s authority. Rather, we read that God gives Satan authority in this world—for example, permission to afflict Job with disaster. Satan is the ruler of this world (John 12:31) and god of this world (2 Cor 4:4). Though he is not named, most of us believe that Satan was the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He failed in his rebellion against God, so he now incites humans to rebel against God (with great effectiveness) not to defeat God but to destroy God’s prized creation. Satan led David to take a census of Israel out of pride. He attempted to tempt Jesus into abandoning God’s plan for salvation. He convinced Ananias and Sapphira into lying to the apostles about their financial gift to the church. He gave Paul a “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7) and prevented him from ministering in Thessalonica (1 Thess 2:18). And of course in Revelation 12:9 we see that he has the power to deceive the whole world.
So—how much can we blame on Satan? Apparently quite a bit. We ignore him at our own peril. How do we fight him? We don’t! We let God fight him (see Romans 16:20). We pray on the armor of God (Ephesians 6). We stay alert (our passage in 1 Peter 5). We realize that our enemies in this world are not so much the people who are doing the horrible things, but the principalities and the powers who have control over them (Eph 6). But here’s what we can’t do: (1) blame Satan for our own sin, and (2) passively accept the bad things that happen. We are to resist the powers of darkness—but not in our own strength!
Bonus Big Idea: Early Church Structure
I recently had a discussion with some students about the structure of the early church and whether the current church really looks anything like it. First, I had to explain that culture, politics, and population changes mean that some things will necessarily change. Churches will get bigger, therefore staffs will get bigger. Society will get specialized, therefore staffs will get specialized. Governments will change rules, therefore churches will adapt to play within those rules. While it’s likely that some of our changes haven’t been good, we can’t look at the structure of the early church apart from its social and political context. (That said, I do think that Baptists have done a better job than anyone else at trying to replicate the early church structure. That’s part of the reason why I am a Baptist.)
But we can look to the New Testament for clues as to how early churches functioned. Most importantly, all early church did have leaders. Paul didn’t lead all of those churches; he appointed others to lead them, then he helped train them. There are three different terms used in the New Testament: “pastors”, “overseers/bishops”, and “elders”. The idea of “elder” comes from the Old Testament in which the oldest members of a tribe naturally assumed roles of governing. But in the New Testament, it seems to be used of a specific office. However, we are never told of the actual duties of this office, nor are we ever told of its qualifications. Instead, Titus 1:5-9 uses the term in parallel with “overseer/bishop” and gives the distinct impression that those two terms are interchangeable. Based on the qualifications of the overseer, it seems (continued) the position was one of spiritual leadership. Outside of those appointed directly by certain apostles, it seems that the congregation had responsibility for selecting these men. We don’t know how many elders there were in each church or what their responsibilities were. The idea of pastor (shepherd), used in our passage by Peter, obviously is intended to refer to one of the responsibilities of the overseer/bishop. Therefore, what we seem to have in the New Testament is a two-fold structure of a church: a church that is led by pastors and served by deacons. All of those leadership terms seem only to refer to different aspects of one position: the pastor(s)/elder(s) of a church. All of the different layers of structure that we find in churches today (denominational structure, hierarchy, and so on) have been added by people.
Most importantly, in all cases the authority of the local church rested in the congregation. Pastors were selected/recognized by and answerable to the local congregation. Major suggestions (like the Jerusalem Council and the letters of the New Testament itself) were submitted to the churches for their consideration. Inasmuch as the suggestions were deemed right, they were accepted. But Peter wanted to make sure that the church paid appropriate respect to their pastor. It’s a hard enough job being a shepherd without the sheep actively fighting you or running away! That respect includes being a part of the work of ministry and using your gifts for the good of the church. Peter made it clear that God has given us all special gifts for that purpose, not just the paid pastors.
Part 1: Responsible Shepherds (1 Peter 5:1-4)
Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s will; not for the money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
And this is why God has given us a church. Anarchy is not an effective model for human society. It never has been. People need structure. We need multiple minds getting together and making sound, careful decisions. We need wisdom from those who have been through situations before to help us react appropriately—not jumping at shadows, and not swallowing a camel. That’s how the church is supposed to work. People coming together to support one another and help one another function rightly in a dangerous world. And there should be a spiritual leader in there, steering the ship, so to speak. And Peter calls himself an elder, which means that you can have more than one office (he was also an apostle)—if you’re Peter. And finally, don’t miss the great line that Peter says he too has suffered for Jesus. He’s not just telling church members to stick their chin out; he’s been there and made it through as well!
Consequently, he, too, will get to enjoy the glory of Christ’s return. Now, let’s talk about pastors, shall we? Assuming Peter isn’t just referring to older people (and he isn’t—you don’t submit to somebody just because they’re older; you respect them), he’s talking about a leadership role in the church. While it is true that the elders in Jewish synagogues were primarily there for leadership and administration and to make sure that the teaching got done, we are not given any job descriptions for this role (see the sidebars). But we are given some guidelines. (1) They shepherd. This is the term used for sheep and where we get the name “pastor” (related to “pasture”). The job of a shepherd is to guide, feed, protect, and otherwise care for the flock. (2) They oversee. This is the term from which Catholics get the title “bishop”; in the secular world it referred to patronage or protective care (as of a government official). It wasn’t ever otherwise used of a title but simply a function of someone’s position. (3) They do not lord over. The church is not a top-down hierarchy or a pyramid. There is one Lord, and the rest of us are all equal before Him. The leaders give example; they do not command. This is in my opinion a sure reason for the congregational model of church government.
Peter throws some real-world insight into this. Remember in John 10 when Jesus said that the hired hand runs away from danger and abandons his sheep? He was making a contrast with Himself, the Good Shepherd; Peter simply applies it to all pastor/shepherds. Think about employees you have known; compare those who were working because they were forced to (by mom and dad or whatnot) and those who genuinely needed to/wanted to. There’s no comparison when it comes to the work ethic and commitment. But Peter adds another layer to the job. If someone is in a job for the money, he would be ripe for corruption or bribery. Church history is littered with violations of this principle (leaders would “sell” church positions (called “simony”); leaders would “sell” contracts to build cathedrals; etc.). So Peter says that church leaders shouldn’t be in it for the position or the money. [Note: Peter does not tell the churches to do anything about this. It is not the church’s responsibility to “keep their pastor poor” as some seem to believe. Churches are to care for, listen to, and provide for their leaders.] They should be in it because God has called them to it, going above and beyond willingly, joyfully, and cheerfully. They do not rule their church (we have all known pastors like that); they offer examples of selfless service and sound doctrine, and the church responds by following such an example. Peter then ends with an encouragement for those pastors—Jesus will reward you for your faithful service.
I strongly encourage you to spend time praying for your pastors and leaders and thinking of ways to encourage them. As pastors, we need to know where we’re doing to a good job, and we also need to know where we’re missing the mark. Send an email or a text; be uplifting; be honest.
Part 2: Trusting Sheep (1 Peter 5:5-7)
In the same way, you younger men, be subject to the elders. And all of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.
Then here’s the role the rest of the church plays. Just as the pastors are expected to be selfless servants of the church, so should everyone else. The difference is that the church members ought to be respectfully submissive to those leaders. Some translations make this strictly an age thing, but that would not be consistent with how Peter elsewhere talks about submission. I think Peter has singled out “younger men” because—let’s be honest—younger men can be impetuous and impulsive. In today’s world, we don’t have to restrict this to males. Peter tells those people to listen to and submit to the leaders; sometimes that “inaction” or that slow and deliberate course of action is actually the best way to make change. In all cases, it is a matter of humility. The word picture Peter uses (“clothe yourselves”) most certainly calls attention to the way Jesus put on a servant’s towel at the last supper. We must all be humble enough to recognize our own limitations and that we’re not always right. This is necessary for a church to function. Besides, pride always leads to disaster for a Christian. But note that Peter tells them they are not being humble under a pastor, they are being humble under the hand of God. God is the Ruler of the church, and He has set an order for His church. He has His reasons, and they are about caring for us and our well-being. Have your group memorize that last line!
Part 3: The Need for Alertness (1 Peter 5:8-11)
Be serious! Be alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. Resist him and be firm in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are being experienced by your fellow believers throughout the world. Now the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will personally restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little. The dominion belongs to Him forever. Amen.
This basically summarizes the whole thing. We have an enemy who wants to destroy us. If we fight amongst ourselves or get distracted from our purpose and our priorities, we are doomed. We can resist him only through our faith in God. Note that we don’t attack Satan (don’t “poke the bear” perhaps?); we resist his attacks (the same word is used in Eph 6:11-13 and James 4:7). But Peter doesn’t get fixated on Satan; he moves quickly to a benediction. “Don’t worry about Satan; keep your eyes on God.” God has called us to this. That could mean that the suffering we are called to brings God glory through our witness, or if could mean that we are called to eternal glory on the other side of this suffering. Whichever, God gives us healing, stability, strength, and support during our suffering. That is a cause for praise. Almighty God is with us and cares about us and given us the help we need: church and Spirit.
Quicksource suggests that you bring a white towel as your illustration. Why do waiters drape a towel over their shoulder? To be able to serve by cleaning up a potential mess. There are few things more humbling than cleaning up someone else’s mess. But that is the attitude we should have. Pastors serve their churches. Deacons serve their churches (note that we are doing deacon ordination and installation this week—perfect time to highlight that example! Remember that the background to the deacons in Acts 6 is one of waiting on tables). Church members serve one another. There is no ego or power in putting on that towel. But the Quicksource points out a fun fact about towels: you can roll them up and snap them like whips. Ha! Now, that might not keep Satan away, but our humble commitment to and faith in God will. Ask your group members what they’re doing to help our church make a difference in our community, to help us all resist Satan.
Aside: Believers All Over the World
In Peter’s day, he could only hint at the sufferings of our fellow believers around the world. Today, thanks to the internet, we can “share” those stories even now. Here are some resources to suggest to your group:
International Mission Board: www.imb.org—it’s filled with stories not just of our missionaries but of the people and places they serve and the challenges they face
The Voice of the Martyrs: www.persecution.com
www.christianfreedom.org—I don’t know much about this group, but they had several good stories posted
Google “missionary organizations” and you’ll find so many websites it’ll make your head hurt. Many of them have good stories from around the Christian world.
Bonus Big Idea: God’s Plan to Survive Persecution
The end of a letter is nothing to skip through. Peter “puts a bow” on his main point and then offers some special words that I want to highlight. First, as far as understanding the context, Peter has been telling his readers not to be afraid of or surprised by persecution. He then ends his letter with a description of the tools God has given us to help us endure this persecution: (1) the church (implied) and (2) the Spirit (implied). God hasn’t left us alone in this fight. He’s given us an entire family of support. But we need to take it seriously. Respect the church. Be a part of the church. And God has given us grace and uplifting and the ability to resist the Devil—all of that through the Holy Spirit who is with us. But we have to take Him seriously, too.
Peter then ends his letter with a couple of great verses that we will skip over (unless I can convince you to read them as a group). He mentions Silvanus, the scribe. This is a version of the name Silas, who very well could be the same Silas who accompanied Paul and was with him in prison (Acts 16). At the very least, Silas delivered this letter to the church, and I think he also helped Peter organize it. Then we have the code word “Babylon” which almost certainly means that Peter was writing from Rome, and “she” implies the church there. Then there is the mention of Mark, who is almost certainly the John Mark of Paul’s first missionary journey and the author of the second Gospel. The early church was meeting in Mark’s mother’s house when Peter was miraculously freed from prison (Acts 12). And Paul mentions that Mark was with him while he was in prison in Rome writing the letters to the Colossians and Philemon. Early church history painted a very close relationship between Peter and Mark; one leader said Mark was Peter’s interpreter. Mark caused a great deal of heartache for Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15), so it is encouraging to see that a young man can grow from his mistakes.