Intro:
Today we come to the Conclusion of Peters first Epistle
A)Here in
v.10-14 we see that Peter finishes this letter by giving some final thoughts
& by mentioning some Friends / Helpers
A)He starts w/ Silvanus in v.12 / Silvanus is also Silas,
its the same name.
B) Most Bible Scholars & Historians Believe that this is
the same Silas who Traveled w/ Paul on his 2nd
missionary journey.
1) Paul and Barnabas split over the desire of Barnabas to take his
nephew
Mark, and Barnabas took off with Mark, headed for Cyprus
C) Paul took Silas and they headed for Asia
Minor.
1)
The
same Silas that was imprisoned with Paul in Philippi when they were singing
together at midnight in the inner prison
D) Now Peter mentions here
that Silas was actually the one who wrote down
this epistle who put it on paper
1)
Probably
as Peter dictated it to Him !!!!- Common way Books
were written / Silas being a Greek / Mastery of the Greek Language
E) First Peter has some of
the most Classic well written Greek Language in all of the N.T.
Silvanus
was one of those men the Church can never do without.
A)He was content to take the
second place and to serve almost in the
background so long as God's work was done.
1)
It
was enough for him that he was Paul's assistant,
even if Paul for ever
overshadowed him.
B)It was enough for him to
be Peter's penman, even if it meant only a bare
mention of his name at the end of the letter.
1) He would go down in the
history of the Church as a faithful Servant on whom both Peter & Paul
depended. / Church always needs people like that!!
In V.13 Peter mentions the Church (SHE) in Babylon which another name
at that time for Rome / As Well as Mark
A)Again this is most likely John Mark who was the Writer of the gospel of Mark
which was really Peters account of the Life of Christ
B) So he is with Peter there
in Rome in Babylon, and Peter joins him in the closing remarks. "Peace to all of you that are in Christ,"
C) Peter leaves those who were experiencing great persecution to the Peace that is only found in Christ
1)
He leaves his people to the peace of God which is greater than all
the
troubles and
distresses the world can bring.
Now I want to go back to v.10 Peters final WORD to these
believers who were in the mist of PERSECUTION
A)What he says here is really the Lords ultimate desire for all of us that we would be Perfected / Established/ Strengthen & Settled in the Lord
B) Perfect = is used of mending nets that have
been broken or stretched / damaged
C)
In this life we can get stretched & broken
but the Lord is in the business of fixing that which has been broken /
damaged
1) Taking that which the world would think has been stretched beyond repair and fixing it
C) The word also speaks of
that which is well fitting
/Framing of the Body & the World Everything is well fitting GREAT DESIGN / ear / nose
1)
God
is doing a work in us that is Well fitting When he is done fits well- Tux
too big tailor -
D) Perfect fit for you (
Place where This is where I belong this is what I was made to being doing
right now Eric Little All I know is
that God made me fast & I feel his Pleasure when I run
A)1st there is
The individual plan that He has for your life /The Lord has a plan a ministry
that He is preparing you for that is Well Fitting
Glove
B)2nd Also the
Big Picture To make you like Jesus
Establish = To Fix or to Set Like Cement The Lord wants to Establish us So that we are Unwavering in the faith
A)1 Thes. 3:13 Paul talks
about Establishing our hearts not
driven by our emotions not unsettled by our feelings
1)
2
Peter 1:12 Established in the truth
SETTLE
YOU: This is used in several ways It refers to the foundation of a House
that which cannot be shaken to ground securely
A)It is used to speak of the roots of a Tree going
down deep
B) Peter says here
the way to be Perfected / Established / Strengthened & settled in
every season of Life/ it is Thru the work of the God of all grace
1) Then
in v.12 He repeats this idea by saying that it is thru
the Grace of God that we stand !!!
C) So Peter ends this letter
by placing an emphasis upon the grace of God !! AND Peter ends his 2nd
Epistle in much the same way there in 2 Pet. 3 :18
1)
Peter
says GROW - yes / Peter Grow in holiness / dedication / Zeal
Doesnt say any of that Grow in the
grace & Knowledge of the Lord
D) Amazing this Great Apostle / Evangelist / Big Man/ Former fisherman at the end of his life Crucified shortly after writing 2 Peter
1) Ends it all by
encouraging his Bros/sisters in Christ to grow in Grace !!!
Paul last words also contained similar exhortation / last
Book 2 Tim. Writing from Rome before beheaded
A)Paul ends the book like
this 2 Tim. 3:15 Grace be w/ you all Amen
B) Ch.2 of 2nd Tim.
Words to young Timothy Be strong in the grace that
is in Christ Jesus
1) So Paul ends in much the same way as Peter Emphasizing the Grace of God !!!!
as well / Rev.22: 21 The Grace of our Lord Jesus be w/ you all Amen !!!
1) The Word Grace appears 137 times in the pages of Scripture
1) It is important truth
that needs to be grasped & understood
A)Grace is God giving and blessing / not because of
what you are doing but in
spite of what you are doing or have done
B) Grace is receiving Unmerited Favor/ Unearned
Blessing / Undeserved kindness from the Lord
1)
Acrostic
G.R.A.C.E. Gods riches at Christ Expense
C) In other words all of the
blessings & Riches of God are poured out upon you because of what Jesus did
for you
1)
Died
at Calvary/ took upon Himself your sin / shame / & in return you are
forgiven / freed / cleansed / Declared righteous / Abundantly Blessed
Eph.2 For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not
of works, lest anyone should boast.
A)There
is no reason to be boasting about our Salvation why?
It is purely a work of Gods grace that we are
saved
B) John 1:12 2But
as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become
children of God, to those who believe in His name:/
C) 13who were born, not of blood, Not a Christian because Parents are Christians not genetic not in the blood line
1) nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
D) Not saved because of the will of the flesh or of man not because of my
effort / my ingenuity / not because I was intently seeking God
1) Salvation is a Work of God In His Grace -He sent His Son to Die / He sends the Spirit to Convict & Drawn all we have to do is Respond
E) So we are sitting here
today SAVED we are going to Heaven for one
reason only Gods Grace
1)
He
extended to us Undeserved / Unmerited / Unearned Favor
So it is by the Grace of God that we are saved Grace is
the Beg. Pt.
A)But it is also in the
Grace of God that we stand Grace is also the
middle pt.
B) And Peter says that it is
the God of all grace who is going to Perfect / Establish / Strengthen &
Settle You - Realize it is the Ending Pt.
1)
When
we get to heaven see that we have been made like Christ the Transformation
will be complete ( We wont take any credit )
C) It was those ten steps to inner peace / - No Way
IT IS GRACE
1)
That
is why Paul told Timothy to be Strong in Grace / that is why Peter tells us to
GROW IN GRACE !!!!!
A)Consider that here in Ch.5
Peter wrote some Challenging exhortations
He begins the Chapter. By addressing the Shepherds / insight into
pasturing
B) He talks about Submission / and Humility / and Spiritual
Warfare
1)
I
can read these things and think Man I have blown it here / failing in
this area / never going to have the right attitude
1)
Peter wasnt writing from the Stand pt. Of saying Hey I have it
altogether so here is what you do
D) But here is a guy who failed
in everyone of these areas & is writing from a stand point of what it means to STAND
& WALK in Grace
A)Interesting How was
Peter a witness to the sufferings of Christ ?
1)
PETER FOLLOWED FROM AFAR ends up denying
B) When Christ was on the
Cross Peter saw the scene from a distance if he saw
it at all !!! Only John was at the foot of the Cross
1)
So
Peter wasnt a close witness at all to the sufferings of Christ
Then we read that Peter says that he was a Partaker or a
witness of the Glory of God . Matt. 17 Mt of Transfiguration
A)Jesus there in an aspect
of his glory w/ Moses & Elijah First Peter almost missed it because he
was asleep
B) Then he wakes up - Lord it is good
. Let me build
1) Marks Gospel tells us that Peter said this because he didnt know what to say but felt like he needed to say something
C) What he basically was
suggesting We will build 3 Monuments Put you on the same Plain w/ Moses
Law / & Elijah Prophets
1)
While
Peter is still talking God interrupts him- This is my Beloved son hear ye Him- Be quiet Peter !!!!! Other words
D) Dont try & put my
son on the same level as the Law & the Prophets
E) So we see although Peter was there saw the Glory he botched up that situation & opened
his mouth when he should have stayed quiet
1)
Guess
what I have done that too!!! - Why
did I say anything
V.2 Peter exhorts
the Elders to Shepherd the flock of God among you !!
A)When did Peter hear this
same exhortation from JESUS ?
B) John
21 After the Resurrection. The Disciples were told to wait for the Lord he would give them
instructions on what next move was to be
1)
Peter
grows impatient goes fishing like usual
catches nothing
C) Jesus calls from the
Shore / result / Peter comes in/ Fish/ Bread fire /
1)
Peter
knows that he has blown it again he wasnt where he
was supposed to be
D) But it was there on that
beach in this moment of disobedience in Peters life that Jesus gives Peter this same Commission to
Shepherd the Flock
1)
Feed
& to tend Guys that is GRACE
A)Did Peter Watch ? Garden should have been/ Praying watching/ sleeping
B) Peter also says that their ministry is not to be by Constraint Not Forced nor
being lords over the people / Muscle /Intimidation / but Examples
1)
Again in the garden ARREST what does Peter do he awakes from his sleep /
applies FORCE and cuts off the ear of Malchus
C) Great Example Jesus looks at
Peter Put away your sword
1)
PETER
IS NOT DOING TO GOOD HERE
V.5
Younger people submit to Elders
A)Matt. 16:22 Jesus spoke to
the Disciples go to Jerusalem
die
B) Peter attitude of submission
to Jesus Hardly rebukes him
C) Again v.5 Be clothed w/ humility
Jn.13 Jesus clothed w/ Humility washing feet
1) Comes to Peter what does
Peter say ? You are not going to wash my feet Lord
A)Was Peter sober & Vigilant ? Lk.22 Jesus says to Peter that Satan is after him to sift him like wheat
B) What does Peter say? Not me
Lord the rest of these guys maybe but not me !!!! They might need to hear about spiritual warfare
1) You know what happened !!! Peter ends up being Seduced by Satan & denies the Lord w/in hrs of making that Statement !!!
C) Peter didnt believe that there was an enemy who was out to get him but now he is telling us / You be awake & on guard because enemy is after you
1) He is telling us to do exactly what he didnt do !!!
D) So as you go thru the first 9 verses of this Chapter here You begin to realize that Peter failed at every Pt. In what he is telling us to do
Now
was Peter a Hypocrite ? Telling others to do the very things that he himself
didnt do? Not at all !!!!
A)Peter could write w/ Authority because he learned
thru his failures what it means to stand in the Grace of God
B) See
in our failures we have a Choice to
make we can stand in our Guilt / We can stand under the Condemnation of the
enemy
1) I
can retreat from seeking to be an example to my kids / or being involved in
Ministry / I can focus on my failures & be
disqualified
C) Or I can stand in Grace Knowing that Jesus Paid the
price for my sin / for that specific failure / When I
confess it / Repent from it TURN
D) He
forgives / forgets / totally cleansed restored and blessed
1) This is what Peter came to understand / Standing in the Grace of God is Standing in the Forgiveness & the Restoration that God offers
E) And Standing in the RESOURCES that God supplies
1) Peter learned no longer lean on his flesh his strength / but on the Spirit of God and the Resources that God offered thru His Grace
F) Peter failed miserably and didnt deserve anything that God gave to him
But he excepted it & learned to walk in the Resources God Provided
See it is
the grace of God that he doesnt consume us when we fail
A)It is the grace of God that he doesnt write us off
when we mess up /
When we
misrepresent the Lord
B) You Might get fired for messing up at work but God doesnt get rid of you when you mess up !!!!
C) It is the Grace of God that He gives us 2nd & 3rd Chances not 3 strikes and you are OUT mentality w/ God Mercies New morning by morning
D) It is the grace of God who takes sinners like us / imperfect People and allows us to be used by a Totally Perfect God who doesnt need us
1) It is the Grace of God that when we pick up the Bible He ministers to our Heart even at times Desire isnt there
It
is purely in the Grace of God that He chooses to have anything to do w/ us
A)When I realize just how Holy / perfect / righteous /
wonderful God is and understand that He wants a relationship w/ me
B) He wants to bless my life / He wants to use my life
I am completely Blown away Marvel at His Grace / I
respond in Worship/ Devotion
C) But w/ the Grace of God comes a RESPONSIBILITY to learn from our Mistakes & failures/ this is what Peter understood & did / Turn to Titus 2
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all
men, 12teaching us that, denying ungodliness and
worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present
age, 13looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our
great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14who gave Himself for us, that
He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own
special people, zealous for good works.
Peter
was used incredibly even after all of his failings not because of his
impeccability / his excellence /
A)It wasnt his impeccability but rather it was his
teachability
B) See WE can fail - but we like Peter can learn lessons from our failures /
1) That God is Good / He forgives / He restores / He Empowers
C) I can learn to Stand in His Grace The Forgiveness & the restoration that He offers as well as the Resources that He supplies
1) We like Peter can speak w/ AUTHORITY
D) Here is what you need to do Dont go there
/ or Be Sober this is why
I know first hand how difficult the battle can be
E) All of you who feel that way take heart & learn from Peter
1) He failed miserably and was stilled used mightily
D) He didnt focus on his failings but instead he focused on the grace of God
1) Peter learned from his mistakes & didnt repeat them
E) He wants us to learn what it means to walk in the Spirit & depending upon the Power of His spirit in our lives to get it right next time