I Peter 5:5-11 Submitting and Suffering… Growing Spiritually or Growing Bitter I. Acquiring God’s Needed Grace 5-7 II. Avoiding Satan’s Appetite 8,9 III. Trusting God is at Work 10,11

I. Acquiring God’s Needed Grace 5-7 Be clothed with humility 5 Reason: for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble 1. What’s the Context? Submitting to others!

Overview of Submitting 1:14 as obedient children 2:7,8 those who reject Christ …disobedient to the Word 2:13 submit yourself to every ordinance of man 2:18 servants, be submissive to your masters 3:1,5 wives, likewise be submissive to your husbands… who do not obey the Word 3:7 3:22 angels and authorities and powers subject to Christ 5:5,6 younger, submit to your elders, all to one another & to God’s authority in your life

I. Acquiring God’s Needed Grace 5-7 Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God 6 Result: exalted in due time 2. What’s the Context? Submitting to God!

I. Acquiring God’s Needed Grace 5-7 Cast all your care upon Him, 7 3. Reason: for He cares for you The One who came to do the Father’s will… Hebrews 10:7 Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps 2:21

II. Avoiding Satan’s Appetite 8,9 Reminder: Be sober –self control Be vigilant --watchful Satan’s intent: to render you ineffective Satan walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour 8 1. What do submitting & suffering… and Satan’s desire to devour you have in common?

Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour v8 Job 2:2-5 And the Lord said to Satan, From where do you come? So Satan answered the Lord and said, from going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it. Have you considered my servant Job…so Satan answered the Lord…stretch forth your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face! Physical Suffering Satan’s Goal: Bitterness!

Peter’s denial… Luke 22:31-62 Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you… Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death…Peter, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you know me. Peter began to curse and swear saying, I do not know the man! Immediately a rooster crowed…he wept bitterly. Mt. 26:69-75 Suffering for Christ Satan’s Goal: Do not identify with Christ!

Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour v8 Eph. 6:16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. I Peter 1:7 Testing the genuineness of your faith I Peter 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith

II. Avoiding Satan’s Appetite 8,9 2. Resist him, steadfast in the faith 9 Remember: we are all in this together God tells us what to expect and what our focus should be…

Complete Story on Suffering… 1:1 Strangers that are scattered…flee your homeland 1:3 Living hope 1:4 Lasting inheritance, reserved for you 1:5 Lasting salvation 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice! Outside of SomaliaRwandan refugee camp

Displaced Darfurians 1:3 a living hope 1:4 inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you You really haven’t lost it all…heaven is our home.

The Complete Story on Suffering… 1:6 Grieved by various trials…tested by fire 1:7 Genuineness of your faith being tested 1:7 More precious than gold that perishes 1:8 Your love for Christ causes you to rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory 1:9 Completing the salvation story

1:11 Sufferings of Christ 2:4 Rejection of Christ by men 1:11 the glories that follow The Complete Story on Suffering… 2:4 Chosen of God and precious 2:9 Christians chosen and special…called out of darkness into His marvelous light

2:18, 19 Servants to masters…not only the good and gentle, but also to the harsh…Endures grief, suffering wrongfully 2:19, 20 commendable to God The Complete Story on Suffering… 2:21 Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example 2:23 Committed Himself to Him who judges righteously

3:1 Husbands that do not obey the Word The Complete Story on Suffering… 3:2-4 May your husband see your chaste conduct …the hidden person of the heart …very precious in the sight of God 3:12 the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers…He is against those who do evil.

3:14 do not be afraid of their threats 3:16 Defame you as evildoers, revile your good conduct The Complete Story on Suffering… 3:14 Suffer for righteousness sake 3:14 you are blessed 3:14 be ready to give a reason for the hope within you 3:17 better to suffer for good than for doing evil

3:18 Christ suffered for sin and for the unjust 4:1 Christ suffered for us The Complete Story on Suffering… 3:18 that He might bring us to God 4:1 arm yourself with the same mind

4:4 Speaking evil of you 4:12 Fiery trial The Complete Story on Suffering… 4:5 they will give an account to God 4:12 do not think it strange 4:13 rejoice that you are partaking of Christ’s suffering, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

4:14 Reproached for the name of Christ 4:14 Christ is blasphemed 4:16 Suffer as a Christian The Complete Story on Suffering… 4:14 blessed are you for the Spirit of glory and of God rest upon you. 4:14 but on your part He is glorified 4:16 don’t be ashamed but glorify God

4:19 those who suffer according to the will of God 5:1 A witness of the sufferings of Christ 5:8 Your adversary the devil seeks to devour you The Complete Story on Suffering… 4:19 commit their souls to Him, as doing good, as to a faithful Creator 5:1 partaker of the glory that will be revealed 5:9 Resist him steadfast in the faith 5:9 You are not alone

III. Trusting God is at Work 10,11 1. He is the God of all grace 10 This grace will… perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you To Him be the glory forever and ever 2. He ultimately will be glorified 11

Perfect: “to repair or adjust…to thoroughly complete” Trials make the believer spiritually whole…more effective to minister 5:10 God’s grace at work through suffering Establish: “to set fast, to turn resolutely in a certain direction” Trials make the believer more resilient…stay the course Strengthen: “vigor or strength” Trials make the believer stronger…spiritually fit & healthy Settle: “to lay a basis for, consolidate” Trials make the believer have a more stable foundation…solid

I. Acquiring God’s Needed Grace 5-7 Cast all your care upon Him, 7 3. Reason: for He cares for you 8 & 9 Satan wanting to devour you I Peter Submitting to authority… and to what God allows in your life 7 Trusting God… Resist Satan “God doesn’t care” Listen to Satan

I Peter 5:5-11 Submitting and Suffering… Growing Spiritually or Growing Bitter I. Acquiring God’s Needed Grace 5-7 II. Avoiding Satan’s Appetite 8,9 III. Trusting God is at Work 10,11