November 17th 2024

November 17th 2024                1 Peter 5

 

Peter now speaks to the Elders about love.

V 1. But this dying grace is also a wonderful principle for living.

Peter addresses the elders.

He calls himself also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a sharer of the coming glory.

V 2-4. Feed the flock.                                                                                                                                          This echoes Christ's words to Peter, "Feed my sheep"? (John 21 v 15-17)                                    

The ministerial designation "pastor" (shepherd), as applied to "elders" may have come from here.                                                                                                                                                   Not by constraint, but willingly according to God not greedily but with a free will; neither as being lords over the property of God, but as examples of the flock.                            

When the chief Shepherd shall appear. This recalls our Lord's discourse on the good shepherd

On John10 v 1-16, heard by Peter.

Christ shall bestow upon his under shepherds the unfading crown of glory

V 5-7. Likewise, ye younger, submit. The spirit of the elders is to be loving and respectful, an example making it easy and natural for the younger to follow.                                                          

All are to be clothed with humility, and so to expect God's grace, which is both the cause and the result of  humility.                                                                                        

Peter quotes Proverbs 3 v 34. In support of this teaching, and reinforces his warning to humility ..

James 4 v 10.

It is the politely humble who may relax,                        

casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

Now comes a warning about the Devil who is to be resisted through divine Grace..  

V 8,9. Be sober (calm), be vigilant (watchful). .. your adversary as a roaring lion walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.                                                                                                                                                  

This passage may well be a veiled reference to Nero or to his amphitheatre with its lions.

Seen behind all is a personal devil.                                                                                                    

Whom resist. Compare with James 4 v 7. A Christians determination activates divine force from God.

And the knowledge that the members of the Church throughout the world share the same kinds of afflictions, this tends to make the hardpressed Christians steadfast in the faith.

V 10. But the God of all grace.                                                                                                                                  Peter has instructed upon them the graces consistent with their calling.                                                                    He now commits them to the God of all grace who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus.                                                                                                                                              This closing mention of God's call reminds us of his opening thought of their election (ch 1 v 2).

This glory, again, is to be after ... ye have suffered a while.

The words which follow are simple strengths:

Make you perfect, or, make you what you ought to be, shall Stablishyou firmly to Jesus Christ

Strengthen you by the help of each other.  Settle You, it will put you upon a firm foundation of Jesus.

V 11. To him be ... dominion for ever and ever. Peter closes his message with a benediction.

 

V 12. By Silvanus , . . I have written.                                                                                                

Some say that Silvanus was only the courier, but this statement seems broad enough to suggest the probability that Silvanus - generally agreed to have been the Silas of Paul's second missionary journey - actually served as a secretary in the writing of I Peter.                    

This is the true grace of God wherein ye stand. The apostle sums up the matter of his encouragement and witness to his readers.

 

V 13. At Babylon, elected together with you. Peter here brings greetings from the fellow elect in Babylon.

Some think it to have been a greeting from Peter's wife, a noble person who accompanied Peter on his journeys and who, tradition says, was martyred before her husband.                              

She would have been well known to Peter's readers.                                                                                    And ... Marcus my son.                                                                                                                                     Doubtless an indication that John Mark was with Peter at the time.

V 14, Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity

Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus,

 

News from the Church    New dates

20th November….. Knit and natter is a time to finish old projects or learn new skills

4th December  …..Friendship Group,  (this covers all ages and the lonely people.)

 

ANSWERS TO 10th November  QUESTIONS

1) Queen of Sheba  2) she heard of his wisdom and fame   3) David   4) Egypt 5) 1400 chariots  

6) Wisdom 7) Bathsheba 8 ) 1​Kings ch 4 v 29 and ch 5 v 12 and  2​Chronicles ch 1 v 12   9)  No 10). He went to Judah  11) Abijah   12)  Ahijah  13) God told him 14) Come in wife of Jeroboam  

15) The child will die   16)  Some good thing toward the Lord.

 

Bible Quiz    this week’s Quiz is about Ahab and Jezebel, and Elijah

 

1 When the plot to kill Naboth worked what did the Queen do?​

2  Who was at the entrance to Naboth’s vineyard?

3    when the king saw Elijah what did he say?

4    What prediction did Elijah utter?​

5    Did this have any affect on Ahab?

6  When did 2 kings listen to 2 prophets before a battle?

7  Why did Ahab change clothes with the king of Judah?​

8 Was this successful?

9    What question did Elijah put to Israel on Mt Carmel?

10  What was their response?

11  After seeing the marvelous happenings, what did the people say?

12   What menu did the Angel prepare for Elijah’s meal?​

13   When the Angel came the second time what did he say?

14   Who did Elijah say was his successor?

15   Who went with Elijah on his last journey?

16   How was Elijah carried to heaven?

 

Romans 1  

 

V 16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

V 17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

V 18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

 

God Bless