1 Peter #17 1 Peter 5:1-7 (MSG) Influenced Influencers Influencing for the Kingdom
1 Peter #17 1 Peter 5:1-7 (MSG) Influenced Influencers Influencing for the Kingdom
To be a
leader one has to have followers. If the
leader has no followers, well, they’re just out taking a walk (John Boehner).
Do you see yourself as a leader? It was
John Maxwell who promoted the idea that leadership is influence. So, have you ever influenced anyone? Sure you have. When someone listened to you and they did
what you suggested, they followed your lead, ah, that means you’re a leader.
Peter
gives us a mandate for leaders in the Church. Since you have influenced others
in your life there is a message for you here.
Still not convinced you’re a leader?
The Apostle Paul wrote that we are all ambassadors for Christ, God’s
emissaries to the world. An ambassador is
an influencer, an influencer is a leader, and that makes you a leader.
1 Peter
5:1-4 (MSG)
I have
a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it's like to be a leader,
in on Christ's sufferings as well as the coming glory. 2 Here's my concern:
that you care for God's flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because
you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can
get out of it, but acting spontaneously. 3 Not bossily telling others what to
do, but tenderly showing them the way.
4 When
God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule,
he'll see that you've done it right and commend you lavishly.
Peter
knows what it is like to be a leader, there is always persecution, difficult
decisions to make, and as he will soon address, spiritual warfare. He has
received his full share of the sufferings of Christ, pain for obedience, hated
for doing good, as he carried out the orders Jesus gave him to be a feeder of
God’s flock. Jesus gave Peter a mission:
“If you love me, feed my sheep” (John 21:17). In addition to his loads, he
concerned himself with the welfare of those he led. It’s hard to lead
well. Peter encourages us that beyond
the sufferings of this life, there is something better, something glorious that
we as leaders will take part in. It’s good to remember that there is God’s
total redemption coming, the consummation of the Kingdom, when God sets all
things right, the way things were intended to be.
Some
leaders are recruited to care an entire nation, like Moses. Some are selected to influence a congregation be to many of few. Still,
others may only lead one. We all are
called to use our influence for the furtherance of the Kingdom. The main qualification for being a Kingdom
leader is the ability to care for people.
To care one must have concern for another’s welfare.
Philippians
2:4 (MSG)
Don't
be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to
lend a helping hand.
If
there is a leader that is more interested in taking care of themselves than
what is best for those they influence they need to be removed from authority. Self-interest
will move such a person closer to using others rather than serving the people. Abusive leadership has always been a problem
within the Church.
One of
the most common ways a leader can abuse those he or she leads is by being
dictatorial, “my way or the highway.” I’ve heard—"just do what he says,
God’s man, God’s plan.” A more subtle form
of dictatorship is the benevolent dictator.
The benevolent dictator has convinced folks that what they are doing is
for their benefit, they seem to be seeking consensus or putting things to a
vote on their hand-selected board of directors, or regardless if they receive
permission or not, just go ahead with what they have decided all along. Of
course, if you confront the response will be religious shaming techniques to
guilt you into submission. They will tell you that they are a team player, and
they are, as long as you play along with them. People followed Jesus because
they wanted to, not because they were forced. The dictator coerces people to do
what he or she wants.
Another
sign of abusive leaders is they will build certain people up in front of others. They will praise the one they want to prompt
publically. They shower their attention on an individual. It’s a method to create loyal followers that
will be easy to manipulate because of that loyalty. Such a leader needs a circle of condoners,
people who will rubber-stamp whatever the leader wants.
An
abusive leader is not above publically shaming someone. In a very conservative congregation an
engaged couple ended up pregnant before the wedding, the Pastor demanded that
the couple confess their sin before the congregation and ask for forgiveness
all in the name of church discipline. That
order was more an exercise in humiliation than love. If you disagree with the abusive leader then
you are out of God’s will, you are in rebellion, or you never really belonged
in the congregation. Slandering those
who leave is a sign of abusive leadership. Manipulation through guilt is
another.
If you
see partiality, certain folks in the congregation seem to be treated better
than others, it’s because the abusive leader has determined that his or her favorites
can further their agenda. Most often
it’s the big contributor who gets the most attention. For an abusive leader, everyone
has a place in the pecking order of importance.
In the
church setting an abusive leader will be prone to ordering staff to do things outside
of their job description or put unreasonable demands upon them. If there is no staff, volunteers are asked
for favors. Extracting personal favors from
members of the congregation is abusive behavior. Along with this mind games like gaslighting are
played to get you to question your understanding of what’s going on.
Another
trait of an abusive leader is their need to control. They have their finger in every pie because
they don’t want things to get out of their control. They don’t delegate, they put people in
charge who will do what they want. No
independent thinking allowed. The
Shepherding movement of the late '70s and early ’80s was a prime example of
control. You had to check in with your
leader, your Shepherd, concerning every aspect of your life to get their
approval. I wanted to give an
acquaintance of mine a queen size bed frame because I was moving, he told me he
couldn’t accept because his shepherd said that a twin was sufficient for
him. Control seeks to make slaves.
In the
church “Pastor on a Pedestal” is a sign of abusive leaders. The Leader can do no wrong. The Leader is always right. No one holds the leader accountable. I suspect that the leader who isolates
themselves from those they are leading may be a sign of being on a
pedestal. I visited Saddleback Church
when Rick Warren was the lead pastor, after preaching, he joined the
congregation, shaking hands and greeting people, he was accessible, a sign of a
good leader. I’ve attended other
meetings where you didn’t see the preacher until it was time for the delivery
and then the leader was whisked away after the presentation. I guess they had
more important things to do than rub elbows with the congregation.
Worst
of all abusive leaders don’t know that they are. Their ego has created huge blind spots. They don’t see how their behavior is
negatively affecting others.
God’s
leader is to be a shepherd. You are to
be a shepherd. You may not be the leader
of an entire congregation but you have influence with someone, that makes you a
leader. You are to care for the flock,
your brothers and sisters in Christ be that many or few. Because you are concerned with the welfare of
others you seek to meet their need (Matthew 20:28). When you do, you are a
shepherd; doing what Jesus has already demonstrated. Jesus' leadership style includes leading by
example (John 10:3-4). Good leaders practice what they preach. The Shepherd is
trustworthy. It always takes time to
develop trust, but consistency in your words and deeds convinces others that
you are the real deal (John 10:4). Folks come to realize that you are there for
them. God’s leader provides, and they meet needs, reflecting on the 23rd Psalm “The
Lord is my shepherd” the leader's objective is to restore souls. Jesus said that he had come so that folks
could live their lives to the full, a good shepherd encourages others to help others
live well (John 10:9). The Shepherd is
invested in the welfare of others, realizing as others prosper, they also
prosper (John 10:12). Because of this
investment, they are willing to sacrifice their comfort and, in some instances,
their very lives (John 10:11, 15, 17-18). The shepherd is up close and personal
striving to build and maintain righteous relationships with others (John 10:14).
You
know everything rises and falls on relationships. Leaders invite the development of strong
relationships with others even realizing that like Jesus there may be a Judas
in the group. Betrayal is one of those dangers of following Christ. Not everyone can withstand the refiner’s
fire. God’s way of disciplining His
followers, getting them in shape for their mission, comes in so many unpleasant
ways (Hebrews 12:11). Time and time
again the saying that people don’t change when they see the light, only when
they feel heat has proven true. We are
to endure hardship and pursue holiness. Creating enduring and thriving
relationships that benefit the Kingdom is part of the leadership task.
Peter
instructs us that our attitude toward our task as a leader is to be
characterized by the willingness to serve and serving gladly. It’s out of
concern for others, not personal gain, that motivates a leader. Always leaders set examples of living life to
the full so that others have a model to do likewise. The best method of
teaching is by example not lecture or command (Powers p. 146). This is why Jesus said, “Come and follow,”
instead of creating a school of learning.
An additional thought on Jesus’s invitation: the position seeks the
person, the person does not seek the position.
God does the calling. That’s why
a good shepherd is often reluctant to lead because they are well familiar with
their inadequacies. The call of God goes out and they volunteer.
Jesus,
of course, is the Chief Shepherd. All
believers are to look to Jesus’ example in living a life of obedience and
love. We are to have His attitude; we
are to think like Him (Philippians 2:5).
The Apostle Paul said that Jesus humbled Himself to follow the One He
called Father’s lead. “When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity
and took on the status of a slave, became human” (Phil 2:7 (MSG)! Jesus said
that He was not doing His will but the will of His Father who sent Him (John
5:30). Jesus followed His leader. That following was a demonstration of
humility. Peter writes:
1 Peter
5:5 (MSG)
And you
who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers
alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for— God has had it with the
proud, But takes delight in just plain people.
Plain
people are folks who are transparent and honest, they are not burdened with a
swollen ego, their noses are not in the air nor their heads in the clouds,
rather their feet are on the ground. They might be rough around the edges but
they are solid and strong and sensible. In this letter Peter has urged folks to
treat one another with love (4:8), and hospitality (4:9) and to serve one
another (4:10). To this list he adds be humble, be down to earth, be the plain
person you are. Both leaders and leaders in the making, are to develop and
display an attitude of humility.
Humility is seeing that everyone is on equal footing. Humility is not thinking less of yourself,
it’s rather demonstrating that you love others as much as you love yourself (Matthew
22:37). You want to prosper, and you
want others to prosper, and are willing to set aside what seems best for you to
help another to prosper, that’s the attitude of humility. As we know from the
resurrection, God honors the humble with vindication. God makes the best
leaders out of plain people.
The
message for persecuted believers is you’re down, but you’re not out. God will raise you up, and promote you in His
time. The same message is for all of us, shepherds. It’s difficult to be a leader. It’s often difficult to take care of yourself
but then take on the responsibility of influencing others, well that just adds
to the difficulty. But regardless, you answer the call. You allow your concern to translate into
action and suddenly find yourself caring for people.
Verse 7
is a verse of empowerment. The Message
version paraphrases the verse to read “Live carefree before God; he is most
careful with you.” The translation more
familiar is from King James “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for
you.” When bad things happen, if we misunderstand this verse, we think that God
must not care, or God is powerless to intervene, or there is no God at all.
Peter has been telling us that those are the wrong conclusions. When it comes to testimonial suffering think
refiners fire, the perfecting power of problems.
When we
entrust our difficulties to God, Peter tells us that God will help us in our
struggles.
Psalms
55:22 (MSG)
Pile
your troubles on God's shoulders—he'll carry your load, he'll help you out.
He'll never let good people topple into ruin.
Matthew
6:34 (MSG)
God
will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Romans
8:32 (MSG)
If God
didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition
and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything
else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?
How
should we define this help, this care, this doing for us? Could our definition of well-being, of being
taken care of, be different from God’s?
My definition of well-being and good care means that I have financial
stability and physical health, there is happiness in my life, good friends, and
good times. My definition of help is I get what I need to defeat my
problems. After all, I know what’s best
for me. God’s idea of well-being has more to do with my character than my
comfort. God’s idea of well-being is that I become the person he declared me to
be, doing the work He has empowered me to do, more concerned with the mission
assigned than the easy street that I prefer. The nasty situation I find myself
in is the refiner’s fire. Faith is trust
that results in action. Faith’s trust is
being certain that the things of this life are not going to break us, but
instead make us, knowing that God works for the good of those who love Him
(Romans 8:28). Faith’s action is
obedience and love, even when we find ourselves in the Roman Colosseums of life
for seemingly entertainment purposes for the pagan world. Faith makes it possible for you to continue
casting your cares to God, entrusting yourself to His care.
Are you
sure you want to be a Christian? Once
you’ve acknowledged that you are a sinner in need of saving and believe that
Jesus is exactly the savior you need, you willing bent the knee to Jesus,
committing yourself to be his disciple, and having asked God to make you one of
his chosen people, did you realize that you decided to allow yourself to be
thrust into any situation that God needed you to be in, not only for your
benefit but for the furtherance of His work in the world? Come and follow is an invitation to die to
self and to live for Jesus and ultimately be promoted to life eternal (Luke
9:23). Come and follow is an invitation
to enter into the suffering of Jesus with the faith that serving well results
in a resurrection (Philippians 3:10-11).
It’s not easy being a leader, an influencer, a shepherd in the Kingdom,
the neighbors are going to hate you (John 15:18). The larger community will make things
difficult for you (Ephesians 6:12). It
may cost you more than you thought you could pay to be a Christian (John 16:2). Are you sure you want to be one? Count the
cost (Luke 14:28).
The Jesus
follower never resents the testimonial sufferings of life and never rebels
against them but understands them to be a refiner’s fire that purifies them as
their endurance continues God’s work in the world because they know that the
mighty hand of God is on the tiller of their life and that God has a destiny
for greater than can be imagined in store for their faithfulness. (see—Barclay's
Daily Study Bible: The Laws of the Christian Life (1) (1 Pet 5:6-11)—Barclay's
Daily Study Bible (NT).
From
the teaching we have learned that in reality, we are all called to be leaders
in the Kingdom. If you’ve bent the knee
to Jesus you’ve been called into service.
Voluntarily enlisted. Leadership is influence and if you influence just
one person, you’re a leader. There are good leaders and abusive leaders. The good and the abusive are separated by
egoism. The Good leader has victory over
doing things the way they want, when they want, regardless of how their
decision affects others, they serve out of concern for others. The abusive leader has not mastered egoism,
they serve out of what they can get.
Take
home with you that you have the privilege of bringing every care and concern
you have to God. You don’t have to carry
your burdens alone. Prayer and
Fellowship are the avenues in which we find help when things get overwhelming. Brothers and sisters are called to be
shepherds. God is concerned with your well-being.
So when things are difficult you have sound advice from Hebrews 4:16 (MSG)
So
let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy,
accept the help.
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