2618

The"American Wisdom Series"

presents
Pamphlet #2618
The Epistle of 1^st Peter chapter 5

So be prepared and do what Peter instructs in verse 7, otherwise Satan will eat your lunch.

We live in the most exciting of Biblical times, the time when the prophets and the disciples of God all wanted to know what it would be like!

But it is you and me who Jesus Christ granted the privilege to live now, in this final generation of the fig tree, and to "carry on" until "all these things" of which Christ spoke of on the Mount of Olives in Mat. 24 and Mark 13 comes to pass.

Who me, you say?

I'm just a factory worker, or a secretary, or a salesman, or a homemaker.

So!

The great apostle Peter was a fisherman!

Did he have a PhD in Philosophy?

No.

Did he have a degree from a seminary?

No.

Those who had the "degrees" kept asking Jesus stupid questions to which they should have known the answers.

That's why Christ usually prefaced His answers to them with "Haven't you read?" or "It is written".

And yet look how mightily God used Peter!

Even so, did Peter consider himself to be above others in status?

No, this great apostle of God sets himself right along side the elders, those who are mature in God's Word, and exhorts them to do something.

He begins:

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:

Have you noticed throughout this Book of Peter that the Big Fisherman can't get his mind off "the glory that shall be revealed"?

Do you realize that the more you study and understand His Word and discover what lies beyond the veil, that the less important this flesh body becomes?

So we have to suffer a little for His sake.

It is so temporary compared to eternity.

Paul had the exact same focus and attitude as Peter.

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.

Can you look past the present sufferings?

Now here is what Peter exhorts the elders of the church to do.

1 Pet. 5:2 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;

Do you remember, or have you read, how Peter was exhorted by Jesus Christ to feed His sheep?

John 21:15
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
[16] He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
[17] He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Do you get the feeling that Jesus wanted Peter to feed His sheep?

Well guess what?

The trough with the Bread of Life has just been handed over to you and me!

So are you to go out and evangelize to the world?

No, but even if you did, Peter says to feed the flock "which is among you".

We all have what is often called "a circle of influence" and if you remember back in 1 Peter 3:15 that Peter told us "to be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh?"

Editor's note: I have some personal experience with this! Years ago, my daughter who was probably 25 to 35 years old, at the time, used to ask me on a regular basis, questions about Biblical doctrine; What did I believe about this or that? Many times, I am sure, because what she believed didn't necessarily agree with what she was hearing in church or from others who she had spoken with. I believe she came to me because she knew that over the years I had spent a lot of time reading my Bible, and she thought she could depend on my knowledge of scripture. I am sorry to admit that many times, especially early on, I wasn't confident enough in my own understanding to give her answers that I was 100% sure of being correct.

Several years later, I do remember one conversation with her where she stated that when her daughter was first born she saw something in her face to suggest that she was acknowledging previous contact with some one or some thing. Sort of saying "Good-bye for now. Wish me well. I hope to see you again soon."

My daughter ask me, "Dad, is this possible? Am I imagining things? I remember seeing something similar in my son's face too when he was first born."

I am happy to tell you that for the first time, I gave her a very confident answer. I said Debbie, "I won't pretend to know, if what you saw in the children's faces was indeed what you think it may have been, but I can tell you, with confidence, that both children did just come from another place. A previous spiritual existence, a place we've all spent time, before God places us in the womb to be born, live and experience this flesh and blood life. We are all children of God, who He created many, many millions of years ago. Even before He created the first earth age".

I'm happy I had that conversation with Debbie when I did. Debbie passed away shortly after that, she was only 39. So, I advise you; Don't pass up any opportunities. Be ready, as Peter told us in 1 Peter 3:15, to give an answer to every one that asketh!
Please read pamphlet #2621

And when we feed those around us and give answers, we should speak the oracles of God from the Word of God as we were instructed in 1 Peter 4:11: "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God;".

However, Peter has also told us time and again if we speak as one who has authority and yet have not set an example and "walked the walk", we can do more harm than good, for we make Him look bad.

Neither, Peter continues, should we teach for money, but feed the flock willingly and with a ready mind, which is a mind that is armed with the Word of God as Peter told us in 1 Peter 4:1.

1 Pet. 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

We must always set the example and lead the way.

Again, the apostle Paul who was of such like mindedness as Peter, also told us to feed the flock.

Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

So feed the flock which is among you, but remember... you better have more than a baby bottle full of milk, otherwise you're not an elder, you're still a babe.

Side Note: If you're ready and able to feed sheep and only one sheep shows up, don't try to feed him or her all the food in the trough at one meal.

1 Pet. 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

There goes Mr. Vision again.

Peter just can't wait until payday, and not for himself only as one might suppose.

He's excited for you and me!

[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.

This verse is not just talking about the age of our flesh, but of maturity, eldership, in the Word of God.

If you are 75 and just beginning to study His Word, you are a babe.

If you are 40 and have been rightly dividing the Word for 15 years, you are an elder.

[6] Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time:

Be patient.

God will promote you when you are ready!

[7] Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

These two Greek words translated "care" and "careth" in this verse are not the same.

Cast all your "cares" means cast all your "worries" upon Him; for He "takes care" of you!

[8] Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Watch out, Peter says!

There's a big mouth lion [Satan] after you and the sheep among you.

But there's a condition!

He may only devour whom he may, i.e. those who will let him, those who aren't sober and vigilant.

So be prepared and do what Peter instructs in verse 7, otherwise Satan will eat your lunch.

Note: There are some who use this verse to document that Satan is present on this earth today. However, we know from Rev. 12:7-9 and 2 Thes. 2, etc. that Satan himself is presently restrained in heaven, where he walks about, and is soon to be cast to this earth. Neither Jesus Christ nor Satan are here in person, yet! But both the Lord's Holy Spirit and Satan's evil spirits are present.

Who sits at the right hand of God and has ALL power in both heaven and earth (1 Pet. 3:22)?

That's right, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And He gives us power over Satan and all his slithering, slimy constituents.

Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

"Locusts, Locusts Everywhere" Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. The Book of Joel gives us the details of that fearsome locust army from the 9th chapter of Revelation.

Joel 1:15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.
Joel 2:1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
Live Link to- Joel
Revelation 9:3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
Live Link to- Revelation chapter 9 (includes chapters 8 through 11

Rev. 9:7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men.

Be sober minded, sensible, and watchful using common sense in all things.

Why?

Because Satan is stalking, seeking whom he may devour!

Can he devour you?

Only if you let him.

1 Pet. 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

So don't put up with Satan and his leftists.

Resist stedfast in the 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.

Remember that the trial of your faith is more precious than gold (1 Pet. 1:7)?

So the little bit of suffering we have to endure is not worthy to be compared to the glory that shall be revealed.

Hey, the more tests we pass the stronger our faith becomes.

1 Pet. 5:11 To Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

And all the credit and glory and honor goes to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

So be it!

[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.

Silvanus is Silas.

Peter, just like Paul in Eph. 6, wants us to "Stand" in God's grace and truth and not be run over!

So put on the gospel armor and "Take a Stand".

Don't worry about that big mouth lion!

Though lions be all about, they cannot hurt nor harm you.

Not too sure?

Ask Daniel.

[13] The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

Marcus is Mark.

Yes, there were a great many of God's elect, "sojourners of the dispersion", in Babylon. Josephus, the Jewish historian, records such in his Ant., XV.ii.2.

[14] Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves" (1 Pet. 4:8). Smooch!

Go in peace in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the ancient Israelites} for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

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