March 23, 2008
Scripture:
A thought came to me in prayer; I was thinking of how precious it is to be able to sing praise to God. Angels can’t sing, it is only those who are redeemed. God must look to the earth to find the chorus of worship and praise. This reminded me of the time that Israel was redeemed out of Egypt; they sang on the shore of the Red Sea. But Israel sang in another place as well. Turn to Number 21; when we think of Number 21, we usually think of the story of the brazen serpent. That is a beautiful type of the Lord. But after that occasion, read vv. 17 & 18: “Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: the princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it.” In Exodus 15, they were singing because they had been delivered from their enemies; here, they are singing because they have been delivered from their sins. They sang about a springing well. We have that springing well too, but sometimes it gets a little plugged; we need to dig it out so that the praise will flow. Like Israel, we can sing because we have been delivered from our enemies—the world and Satan—and we have been delivered from ourselves and our sins. In John 4:23 we read, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” That well of praise should go up to the Father. This morning, we have been giving praise and worship to the Lord for delivering us. Well might we sing our worship and praise to Him for all eternity!
EG Hymn 338 – I love my Saviour,
Prayer
We have been looking at the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. At first, I had a chart on the board that was a circle (representing the Church Age), and the churches going down like steps. I want to use a different chart today, because my other chart didn’t represent what happens accurately. This chart represents the digression of the church at large. The first three churches’ conditions will end, but the last four will go on until the coming of the Lord; in each letter to these last four churches, the Lord’s coming is mentioned. So, why should we look at these churches? Well, we can learn valuable lessons for our own lives. We saw in Ephesus how we should not lose our love for the Lord. Today I want to look at the letter to the church in Thyatira. At this time in history, the Roman Catholic Church rose to great prominence, and used that power to take over the world. They conducted crusades that they called Holy Wars. I want to emphasize how corrupt the church became at this point. Read Revelation 2:18–29. Notice that this passage talks about Jezebel, who was a wicked woman in the Old Testament. He compares the deeds of the church to what Jezebel did. But there were some Christians that were faithful to the Lord; He talks to them in v. 25, telling them to hold fast to the truth until He comes. Those that are faithful will receive a reward: they will reign with the Lord during the Millenium, vv. 26 & 27. So we should wonder, are we faithful to the Lord? How is our love for the Him? What can we do to strengthen it? Well, if someone you loved very much sent you a letter, you would be eager to read it; we should be just as eager to read the Bible, God’s letter to us. Also, we can realize the Lord’s presence in our lives and ask for help moment by moment. Then, we can thank Him for His help. I hope that you will learn to love as though you are in love with the Lord.
I Peter 5:1–7
Peter is now addressing the elders in the groups he is writing to. This could either mean ordained elders or the older members of the assembly. We can get a clue as to who he is writing to by noting two things: Peter calls himself an elder in v. 1, but he was an apostle. Then in v. 5, he addresses the “younger.” It’s clear that Peter is talking to the older members of the assembly. For those who are getting on in years, there is a responsibility to the flock of God (v. 2). Today, many have distorted this principle and have made themselves responsible for their own “flock.” This is not what the flock is; it is made up of all Christians. A flock usually speaks of a group of sheep. Sheep are rather unintelligent animals; they can’t take care of themselves, they get lost easily, and will get into trouble if no one takes care of them. That’s why the Lord came: to gather lost sheep. Sheep have a need for a lot of attention and care. Now, who is involved in caring for the flock? Is it only the brothers? No, for often a sister is able to help an erring one. In regards to this, it’s good to note that Peter is not dealing with the group of Christians he is writing to as an assembly, as Paul would. The Lord told Peter, in John 21, to feed His sheep, and so Peter is a fitting one to be exhorting this. Now, what are the elders to do for the flock? Verse 2 says we are to “feed the flock”; Darby says “shepherd.” Being a shepherd is a full-time job; your sheep may need you at any time. You must always be ready. Some today think this is a job and do it to earn a livelihood. It shouldn’t be this way; we should do it willingly, from a ready heart. Peter mentions two things concerning himself in v. 1: he was 1) a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and 2) a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Peter saw the Lord on the cross; but being a partaker of the glory was yet future. This could be contrasted with Paul, who saw the Lord in the glory (on the Damascus road), and partook of His sufferings through his life. We too can look forward to the glory that we will share with the Lord, like Peter did; it constrains us to live for Him today.
When Peter tells us to “Shepherd the flock of God,” he does not expect us to reach all the Christians in our community. But the Lord has given each of us a sphere of influence and it is important for elders to share what the Lord has taught them. God calls them to oversee the flock, to be under-shepherds responsible to the Lord. In v. 1, we have “willing”; in v. 2, we have “ready”; in v. 3, we have “be an example.” May those that are precious to Him be precious to us as well.
EG Hymn 343 – Jesus is our Shepherd,
Prayer