Closing Words (Part B)

Says he walks around like a roaring lion is on the prowl lion's roar when she heard it once you know always know it, seeking whom he may devour. But get this, can't devour every night because he is an appetite enough, but because is that there's not enough room because God's strength in his saints.

20 was telling Peter I prayed for you.

You going to be victorious you going to return your brethren and then you've got work to do and he's doing it. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville.

Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Peter, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick continues his study called closing were as he teaches through first Peter chapter 5 within the confines of Christian teachings.

This is what God is looking for. We don't have to puff ourselves up. We don't have to promote ourselves. We don't want it, we don't have to think more how we already think highly of ourselves.

It's just veiled in many sophisticated ways. Sometimes because of our frustrations.

So with all Scripture that has to say about this. I'm surprised that it never took hold of. But anyway, how many of you I'm sure you follow that because you you want to submit to your leaders and Christian leaders are teaching us things we we want to follow and get it right. The problem arises when were not very first on on on the Scripture. And it's a process, not trying to be too hard or too light that would undo everything I just said. He says that he may exalt you in due time, there it is, God will lift you up. God will give us what we need.

I mean how does a person say I feel a calling to the ministry knowing they are completely in adequate ill equipped not qualified regardless of how much edge and location.

They may think they have notes education, I should say that because is probably someone. What anyway, that he may exalt you. So you I speak for myself coming into ministry. I just trusting God to fill in the blanks to help out, and he has sometimes not fast enough. Sometimes these let me fall flat on my face, at least in my perception.

My thinking so that I can so that he can get the problems you said that too harshly. No one cares about your opinion on that got me this is my trip home after when you when you leave the sermon here you you I know you got that was the best sermon ever you have to go to the sermon on the Mount to beat that one may I'm going to teach you to believe you said that. Okay, maybe you can clean it up next week know that would be Patty Eddie.

So that's welcome to my world where you so quiet so in due time he may exalt you in due time, God will take care of these things. Humility accepts the truth about ourselves. Not an easy place to get to. I'm in my position okay I'm not eloquent, what are you going to do that will search for what I have instead and and and just use that and that is for all of us in verse seven he says, casting all your care on him, for he cares for you again persecuted Christians. He's writing to you fully aware that I've been reading this and this will come up towards the end of this letter is I've been reading through first Peter. This session, I get the feeling Peter is not in the trouble zone is not in the hot zone was getting the persecution yet and this is in no way disqualifies him from addressing it because he has been persecuted already and he knows he is life will end violently through persecution, so when he says cast your care upon him.

He knows that there are those that are hurting the people of God that hate the people of God. Now here we are. Only when a relatively peaceful environment. We are surrounded by mostly Jesus lovers but outside these walls. There are many people that hate that you love Christ, they hate what he stands for. They will don't mind letting you know this and this is something that is to say, current us to be concerned about lost souls that our testimony would be good enough to be perfect. We have to try to make it perfect. Good enough to draw people to us.

I mentioned earlier leaders, good leaders.

I think they stir a desire to follow them. I know when I find a manner of speaking of my mind I think back in my military days I can remember the men that I admired and did not mind their orders what they wanted to do. In fact, if they were going along I was jolly about the whole thing. This is a good thing it does something that we also want to use in preaching the gospel were people want to hear from us. They want our opinion on a particular matter, whether it is political or domestic, or spiritual or to us. Everything is spiritual. Of course, so we tend to cast some of our cares on Christ.

I know I do. I try to cast them all. This Greek word for cast is the same Greek word only found one other place in the New Testament by the writers of the New Testament, who wrote in Greek is when Jesus they put their clothes on the donkey for Jesus to ride into Jerusalem on what we know is Palm Sunday, they cast their clothes onto the donkey and so you're saddling Jesus with your problems. That's that's of a picture that comes out of this.

So when you cast your cares on him you give it to him and the word okay is forecasting your care is anxiety.

The translators could've used that word track anxiety here. They didn't Philippians chapter 4 where Paul says be anxious for nothing in the new King James that same word anxious translated there in Philippians is the word used here for your care, your anxieties, things that spoke you in there no shortage of this affect the line goes around the corner does not give them to Christ led him you fight your own battles and given to God and that the does not mean that you will be ejected from your problem, these Christians, as I mentioned, will suffer escalating persecution, but the words that were written to them on no less true, accurate and necessary. So, may I never may I never have self courage enough to try to overcome my problems without Jesus Christ, or contrary to Jesus Christ.

We matter to God even if we are being persecuted.

Now there's a warning that goes with this beautiful verse casting all your care for he cares for you. I know as a Christian, a young Christian ice to write verses down what I want to memorize on index cards and this of course was one of them, but we cannot walk according to the course of this world and claim such promises you get. You cannot argue something extreme and a little absurd. You cannot be actively robbing banks and while you're doing that saying I'm casting all my care on the Lord because he cares for me.

You cannot claim that promise.

So that leaves you and I to fill in the blanks.

Is there any course of this world that were not getting out in the open before the Lord. I mean, you know we we struggle with things we take it to the Lord, you know, I have this problem and I'm I'm I hate it and you Hayden. I'm working as hard as I can and just these help while that person can cast all their cares on the Lord. But the one who is ignoring what they're doing and they know it's wrong and still want to come claim Christ is you got issue.

Well, let's get back to some of the teaching part of this as giving application. I hope in verse seven we have what the good Shepherd does, cares for us, cast our care upon him. In verse eight we have what the enemy does in verse nine we have what the disciples do, and then in verse 10 we have what God will do and that's something that Peter arrived at without even trying. See when you do a book you outline. You think it through. But when you do a U we tend to just let it flow. Sometimes we may schedule enforcement dualism at that. This is a letter that he is dictating to savanna's. The amendment is source of the letter you meant when writing the letter to Tori about that eloquent stuff is so here he is just speaking, just saying it you might be pacing back and forth. He might be lying on a cot he might be having a yo-yo in his hand bellowing out.

Not likely, but so they I think the will and the reason why pointed out is because scholars come along and they find it discover these look at that God is speaking in verse seven, the enemy is doing in verse eight, then his genius wall was the author and finisher of our faith was the author of these things in the Scripture. The Holy Spirit, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Be sober or be something else. What is what.

If you do not sober what are you doesn't take. Intelligent person to figure that one out.

We all know the answer to that the enemy is going to be sober in his attacks on you. We better be sober in response. Otherwise we destabilized and he will take advantage of that. We get to the second letter of Peter, and he deals with these false teachers in the church will find that they take advantage of destabilized Christians.

They make merchandise of them.

They exploit them. Gobble them up a professed believer who has not matured over time becomes a delicacy for forces that are harmful spiritually. If not, to them through them.

We don't want to be that person. So he says be vigilant. Stay away Esther Greek word that's the meaning stay awake or be careless, lazy and different and foolish though. That's the opposite. I don't know.

Over if you not vigilant and what are you how much New Testament energy is packed into that word for our thinking and living vigilant. How much potential for Christ likeness is in that word. Matthew Jesus speaking of Mark party Mark chapter 13 verse 37 Jesus said and what I say to you I say to all watch just how he says what I'm telling you I'm telling all my people. That's those living then those who would live. Later we today watch. Pay attention no time for sleeping because it is a reason why your adversary the devil. I remember when I was in boot camp in the last part of it. You know you have to you have to play war in Europe this night and you're on the island and is more bugs and you can shake a stick at. And I was determined to not fall asleep. I want to get caught. That would be death. The drill instructors were allowed to shoot you dead.

If they caught you sleeping on your post know they weren't, but it felt like that but anyway I was determined to stay awake and not scratch because I felt like it. You know, like I joined I may go to war.

One day I may be laying in ambush with somebody will hiding you want you want tip those needs. We hiding and I don't want to give my position away and for the first 20 minutes. It was brutal but just capitalizing on then everything went, the sky nice to bed and I have some beans anyway.

I stayed awake and I watched as after this day you tell I'm very proud of myself here. Humility can we get the back that later levels in the universe. This verse, it was an accomplishment that kind of pride to go back and see you guys scratch bunch of losers know I do that and what I say to you I say to all watch because your adversary the devil, Peter would recall the devil once speaking through him. And Jesus calling him out in front of everyone, how humiliating hunted what could you imagine Andrew his brother, going Petri, he sent you the devil I heard him I was there. Don't try to deny it, get behind me Satan you're not mindful of the things of God but of the things of man. What how much is in that Peter knew that Satan also asked for him was more 23 Jesus said, Simon, Simon, you know, any repeat your name as with any parent that is something serious coming Simon.

Simon indeed. Satan is asked for you, that he may sift you as we and of course what would you say at that point, I know what I say and what did you say when he asked for me.

I have a vested interest in this. So Lord goes on, but I prayed for you that your faith should not fail. And when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren, so he knew something about the works of the devil. When he says because the adversary your devil. He also saw the devil gobble up Judas Iscariot saw that he heard Jesus say watch and pray less you enter into temptation. Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. So watch. He says he walks around like a roaring lion is on the prowl lion's roar. Once you've heard it once you know always know it, seeking whom he may devour.

But get this, he can't devour everyone not because he doesn't have appetite enough, not because it is not there's not enough room because God has strengthened his saints. 20 was telling Peter I prayed for you.

You going to be victorious you going to return your brethren and then you've got work to do and is doing it, he is strengthening his brethren, Satan, the predator devouring others to feel his hatred but he can't devour everyone will hold Kenny not devour as I said, those who have set a watch verse nine resist him because you can't kill that would be nice but can't resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world right at the Hebrews says remember the prisoners at the chain with them. Those were mistreated yourselves are in the body also don't lose sight of this brotherhood. The suffering that we endure so resist him. Any other suggestions for fighting the devil is the only one I know that works, you will still take some hits, but without the resistance you will be gobbled up. God resists the proud we are to resist the devil, resist the devil, but flee youthful lusts, you can't.

You can't really resist that doing a run from it as Joseph gave us an example steadfast.

That means for as a firm commitment I'm I'm not going to negotiate, I'm going to stand best I can. Satan has one target that he continually aims for you and I and that is our faith to break it down if you cannot kill it what you will try to do if he can just ruin it and he does a good job if if you're not watching. He says in the faith to faith, never contrary to truth tonight will be discussing the pattern and the presence of God. The pattern in the presence.

The presence was the tabernacle, but it had to be according to the pattern that God gave Moses just can't make up what you know what I don't like the whole goatskin thing on the thing I what I was thinking was as nice silk. You just can't do that, and many try and so they end up with either the pattern, but no presence of the presence and no pattern.

They either have they have a mess is what I'm saying they they feel like they have God with them, but is not according to God's will is not with them or they just a mess or leave them for trying to preach this evening sermon before we get there and then I have the night off, we don't leave them in together up the right knowing that same sufferings are experienced by the your brotherhood in the world.

The persecution that was expanding throughout the Roman Empire. I do believe Peter is physically in ancient that ancient area of Babylon will cover some of that some don't believe it in the wrong of course whenever they disagree with me you know that the Satan attempted destroy the church through Tara and he will dissent attempted destroy you on an individual level can get to the church or try to get you to destroy you through Tara. Second Thessalonians 2 for the mystery of lawlessness.

Don't try to figure it out.

After a point, is already at work.

Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way, that he who restrains this mystery of lawlessness is the Holy Spirit and on the rapture comes the Holy Spirit will be withdrawn, not absent, and the church will no longer the true church will no longer be the apostate church which is being developed now. Which is more than ever, globally the apostate church will remain and thus the woman rides the beast.

Verse 10 what may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus. After you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you grace for living grace. For thine grace to deal with the penalty of sin, grace to deal with the power of sin.

What is grace well theologians of struggle to define it with words close.

The closest I think we can come as it is undeserved kindness from God, but grace again is one of those things it has to be worked out. It's worked out and we show it to someone else by withholding retaliation and by releasing gifts.

Blessings to others. Grace is a big deal. One of the best illustrations as if a policeman pulls you over and he says you were speeding but I'm not going to give you a ticket. That's mercy is withholding a justified punishment, but then he says is matter fact I've got two tickets to the ballgame. I like to give you box seats like back home late. That's grace. And that is also something that I like to receive and am amazed at sometimes I can pull it off. Monica Wickham badmouth the Holy Spirit says he's never shown grace through me as he gets the glory. But I know something about grace and I think it is so unnatural to us and the character of Christ that it would. It has to be like any other great attribute of Christ. It has to be practiced to be developed. There are those people that are just full of grace. If you ever met someone is in his essay the bad about that person. They always make you feel welcome. They never overstay their welcome grace to hate or not to hate will grace us to not hate those who offend us, the natural man this is what what do you expect me to do was only natural. That's right, you spoke it, brother. It was natural that was not spiritual grace gets us home to heaven, he says, who called us by his eternal glory in Christ Jesus, Peter keeps reminding them in the face of persecution about the glory of Christ Jesus. It is serious serious step back to lose sight of the revealed character of Christ as it is given to us in the Scripture.

That's how cults are born. That's how heresies and apostasy begin to take place in lives when they lose sight of the character of God, full of grace and truth, and we beheld his glory, John said he says Peter does in verse 10, after you have suffered for a while was nothing he could do to stop it. So rather than curl up in a corner he was going to do what he could to brace them for it, and reminds them that this will pass.

Later, after this persecution may be 40 years or so there will be another strong persecution come their way. The church Jesus wrote to a church he wrote to the messengers of the church now, when you go to a service that was a good message because of the messenger for the messengers of the seven churches in Revelation's are not the spiritual angels. They are the pastors who deliver the message and so he singles them out. Whatever the flock is doing wrong. He addresses the pastor sister the angel of the church in Ephesus to the angel of the church at Smyrna Smyrna who was not going to receive, review, Smyrna and Philadelphia said this. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Telling him I don't like suffering. I don't like humidity.

I don't like mosquito bites.

I do not like suffering.

I don't know how I made it this far. We're so glad you tuned in today to study the book of first Peter on cross reference radio cross reference radio is the daily radio ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and we are blessed to bring you God's word with each broadcast. If you'd like more information about this program or want to listen to additional teachings from Pastor Rick please visit our website cross reference radio.com. We also encourage you to subscribe to our podcast so you'll never have to miss a program. Just search for cross reference radio iTunes Google play music or your favorite podcast.

We hope you tune in again next time to join us as we continue our study through the Scriptures like here on cross reference radio