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PETER'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN CONDUCT
(Gerald Dickson)

1 Peter 5:5-14

Introduction

Most of us remember the wrongs of people and quickly forget the good things they have done.

For instance:

Jonah ... What attributes do we think of concerning him?

A rebellious prophet who ran from God? A person without much backbone? A whiner?

Yet few would remember Jonah as the evangelist who led the most extensive evangelistic campaign in Old Testament times (Nineveh). Jonah's message, given him by God, turned around an entire city.

Samson ... Attributes most thought of?

Lustful? An undisciplined womanizer? He died because of his inability to control his passions?

Yet here was a man who led Israel for twenty years (Judges 15:20), apparently with a flawless record. Because of his faithful leadership of Israel, he is mentioned in Hebrews 11:32 as one of the great men of faith.

Rahab ... Attributes usually thought of?

A prostitute from Jericho (Joshua 2:1)?

Actually the great-great-grandmother of David in the Messianic line (Matt.1:5). The mother of Boaz who married Ruth (Book of Ruth). Rahab also in Hebrews 11:31.

What is true of our the recollections of the aforementioned personalities of God's chosen, is true of many, many others we have discovered in the Scriptures.

Which one of Jesus' twelve Apostles do you think of as being the most impulsive, obstinate, loud, fickle and opinionated whom Jesus frequently rebuked?...

Peter ... Yet he was the one who made the climactic confession of Christ as Messiah (Matt. 16:16). It was Peter, as recorded in the first 12 chapters of Acts, who became a major moving force in the formation of the early church.

God worked powerfully through Peter. His energetic preaching, ardent prayer, bold healing and wise direction confirmed the trust placed in him.

Peter left in his legacy two of the most compassionate and courageous letters in all the New Testament, 1st and 2nd Peter.

Yes, he stumbled as we all do, but he also did much good in the name of Jesus, in the service of His kingdom. We can be grateful Peter wasn't written off by our Lord.

This is not a study of the life of Peter, only a few short but powerful verses he left us in his first epistle beginning in 1 Peter Chapter 5.

PETER'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHRISTIAN CONDUCT

Read the complete chapter of 1 Peter 5.

(All Scripture NKJ)

The first four verses relate to the essential attributes of the appointed elders of the new churches.

The remainder of the chapter is authoritative direction for conduct, a system of instructions addressed to the church members.

1. SUBMIT YOURSELF TO THE ELDERS (v5)

To act in accordance with another's wishes, opinions, or decisions. To defer, yield, obey, etc. We submit because He is greater, wiser, and Lord above all.

See also:

Phil. 2:3 ... "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."

1 Peter 2:13,14 ... "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the King as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good."

Hebrews 13:7 ... "Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct."

2. BE HUMBLE TOWARD GOD (v6)

To be very modest or assume a low station in your Christian walk.

KNOW WHO IS GOD!

See also:

Prov. 15:33 ... "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, And before honor is humility."

Prov. 16:19 ... "Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

Prov. 22:4 ... "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life."

Prov. 29:23 ... "A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor."

James 4:6 ... "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

3. CAST YOUR CARE UPON HIM (v7)

To release and direct your concerns, worries, and outside interests.

See also:

Matt. 6:25-34 ... "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry saying 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

4. BE SOBER (v8)

To be quiet in manner, serious, and free from excess. To be responsible.

See also:

Rom. 12:3 ... "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think., but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith."

1 Thes. 5:6 ... "Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober."

1 Peter 1:13 ... "Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ...."

1 Peter 4:7 ... "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers."

5. BE VIGILANT (v8)

To be watchful and aware.

See also:

Matt. 24:42 ... "Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."

Mark 14:38 ... "Watch and pray lest, you enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak."

Luke 21:36 ... "Watch therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

1 Cor. 16:13 ... "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong."

6. RESIST THE DEVIL (v9)

To withstand or struggle vigorously against.

See also:

Zech. 3:1 ... "Then He (God) showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him."

James 4:7 ... "Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

7. BE STEADFAST (v9)

To be firm or unwavering in one's endeavors.

See also:

1 Cor. 15:58 ... "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain for the Lord."

Gal. 5:1 ... "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."

8. BE KNOWLEDGEABLE (v9)

To be understanding, familiar with, or discerning. Also suggests wisdom.

See also:

James 1:5-7 ... "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind."

2 Peter 3:18 ... "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...."

9. GLORIFY HIM (v11)

To show Him reverence, to hold Him in the highest esteem.

See also:

Psa. 50:15 ... "Call upon Me in the day of trouble, I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

Psa. 86:8-10... "Among the gods there is none like You, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Your works. All nations whom You have made Shall come and worship before You, O Lord, And shall glorify your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God."

Matt 5:16... "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

1 Cor. 6:20 ... "For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

10. GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH LOVE (v14)

To acknowledge one another with sincere affection as Jesus does.

See also:

1 Cor. 16:20... "All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss."

CLOSING

1 Peter 3:8-12

"Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. (Peter now references Psa. 34:12-16.) For "He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from speaking guile; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."

AMEN!

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