1 Peter 5:1-14. Feed the flock of God, which is among you, being samples to the flock.

"1 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:" The Lord Jesus Christ made apostle Peter next to him in Spiritual status. "Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Peter's name was Simon Barjona, and Jesus named him Peter, and the meaning of Peter is rock. Bible teachers despise Peter because Satan never liked what Jesus has done. But Jesus Christ appointed Peter to establish the Spirit Church, which is the body of Christ. Jesus Christ has given him power even to send a person to heaven or to deny a person access to heaven. Even though Peter was given such a high Spiritual status, he behaved as a servant to all. He was the humblest apostle. Here, he addresses himself as an elder, as equal to the other elders in the church and he exhort the other elders. Peter has witnessed the sufferings of Jesus Christ, he was with him in Gethsemane when he prayed to the Father, when soldiers caught Jesus, at the trial of Jesus, probably at the cross also from a hiding distance. One important point he notes here is that he will be also the partaker of the glory that will be revealed. We have studied many times about the glory and inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of heaven. "1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Apostle Peter is not the only a person who will receive such a glory, but many saints from the Spirit Church will also receive such a glory. Every Son of God will look the same as God the Son.

Now let us see who an elder is. To begin with, there were elders in the tradition and community of Jews from the old. They were actively involved with the Pharisees, priests, and scribes, in matters of enmity with Jesus. Here, elder is a position of responsibility in churches. "Acts 14:23 ... they had ordained them elders in every church ... Titus 1:5 ..., ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:" So, Titus was also appointed as an elder, and we see that elders are appointed by ordination. Now a days, the congregation elects elders to take care of the administration and business of the church. "Acts 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter." So, they were also responsible to make important decisions in the church. How to be qualified as an elder in the bible? "1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine." So, they must be taking active part in the matters of the church, especially in the word and doctrine. If the church has a few qualified people, the next selection from them must be according to their age. The senior person must be ordained, and the younger must wait for his turn. It is in verse five.

"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;" Now a days, oversight of churches is mainly to perform the ceremony of worship in a fashionable and acceptable manner; and to maintain the money situation profitably. "2 Peter 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." God will punish this money minded people. Here it says that it must not be for filthy lucre, that is money; the oversight must be for their life, but not for church worship and money. Shepherds must take care of their souls, leading them to the kingdom of God. "1 Corinthians 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more." Here apostle Paul tells how we should feed the sheep of the church, and it must not be for money; here apostle Peter refers it as filthy lucre. "3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." Let us see what Jesus Christ say in this regard. "Matthew 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:" So, the bottom line is, that the church authorities must serve the people of God, but not to govern them and to profit from them. "4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." The chief shepherd is the Lord Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ appears in his glory, he will be brighter than the sun, and so, we will also appear like him in glory. He says that the crown of glory that we receive will not fade away for everlasting future; deserving servants get the crown. Even in "1:4 he says, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you," So, it is reserved for his true servants.

"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." Hear the younger is by age; and we saw it in verse 1 as we studied the word elder; here also it says the same. "Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God." Even though the elder is the boss by position, God advises us to get along with each other as husband and wife or as brethren. "6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" Most of all, humble before God; how? obey his word, obey his word immediately; then God will exalt you in the proper time. "Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." It is God's doing and God will do it.

"7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." In Matthew 6, Jesus Christ tells this advice to his disciples and followers. It will not apply to everybody. However, it did apply to the recipient of this letter because they were also the followers of Jesus Christ. If you follow Jesus Christ, it will apply to you, otherwise, it will not. "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?" It is a simple advice, but practically it is very heavy, and we must have faith and trust in God. Please read the rest of the verses also. ["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? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."] Please bear in mind, it is for the followers of Jesus Christ only, but it is not for the regular church going people. "8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:" Even in this letter, the apostle says a few times to be sober; so, it is important that believers must have sound mind, that is to be sober. To be vigilant also give more power to sound mind, it will make you very alert or cautious. The next portion of the verse is, "your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." What will he do and what is his weapon? He will lie and his weapon is deception; he has done it with Eve and succeeded; but when he tried it with Jesus, he was thoroughly defeated. He will try with you also. How will he try? He will come to you as your friend, as a teacher or preacher of the word of God and will teach lies to convince you. If you believe the lies, which are doctrines of men, you will go under; but if you believe the doctrine of Jesus Christ, the devil will be defeated miserably. "9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world." How to resist the devil with steadfast faith? Please read Luke 4:3-12, and see how Jesus resisted the devil, and how he gained the power of God. ["Luke 4:3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. 4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. 5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: 10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: 11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."] Please continue to read verses 13&14. "13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season. 14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about." Here the devil was defeated, and Jesus has returned with the power of God. Please remember that at that time Jesus was a man like you and me. The rest of verse 9 says that the same thing has happened to your brethren and so, it may happen to you also, if you are steadfast with faith. "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." Please remember that our God of all grace, gives us grace by our Lord Jesus Christ for our eternal glory. But be cautious, grace is not for lasciviousness to enjoy sin without fear. Eternal life will not come cheap and easy, but we must strive and suffer. God also says that after we suffered for a while, he makes us perfect, stablish, strengthen, and settle us. Remember that without cross, there will be no glory, and it is the way of God. "11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."

"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." Apostle Peter sends this letter in the hands of faithful brother Silvanus. The most important purpose of this letter is, to make sure that the grace they stand, is the true grace, but not a fake one. It also proves that even in the beginning of the churches, even in the time of apostles, the grace of God was polluted and counterfeited by Satan and his preachers. Even now they continue to pollute more and more, and they call it now as the grace gospel. It is dangerous deception. "13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son." It is a salutation from another church and from a servant of God. "14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen." The last sentence of the letter is the parting wish, and it is with the kiss of charity. Almost all teachers highlight the kiss, even make it a holy kiss, but ignore charity. But the most important part is Charity, which is the love to save souls, for the souls to inherit the kingdom of God. Please look at the next salutation carefully. "Peace be with you all." Everybody gets it. But the peace is not to all, and the sentence continues. As a teacher, I must point out what the verse says, it is peace, but only to those, who are in Christ Jesus. But usually, people take it as, peace to all in the name of Jesus Christ. It makes a lot of difference. Jesus Christ says in "John 14:27, Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." His peace he gives to his disciples and followers, but not as the world gives.

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