The Good Shepherd Cares for You (1 Peter 5:1-11)
Gary McManus, 08/07/2022Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
The Apostle addressed the newly baptized? (1 Peter 1:1, 1 Peter 3:21). The Apostle certainly addressed the Elders of several congregations (1 Peter 1:1, 1 Peter 5:1). The Apostle took the opportunity REMIND the baptized of their work. He reminded the leadership of their work on behalf of these sheep in their care.
Elders = Elder Shepherds
Jesus = the Good Shepherd
Reminders to ALL OF YOU (1 Peter 5:5), both
Elder Shepherds and the sheep.
Verse seven is also for ALL: All of you,
Cast all your anxiety on the Good shepherd
BECAUSE he cares for you.
Can you say of the Good Shepherd that you are
one of his beloved flock? (John 10:9-16)
Notice 1 Peter 1:7 your faith—of greater worth than gold. No one that the Pastor read, who gave up their faith, mentioned that verse.
Next reminder: just as the sheep on the hillside have
natural enemies, the sheep of Jesus’ flock have an
enemy. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
YOUR enemy wants to destroy you.
AND, THEREFORE, remain close to Jesus.
(See Psalm 23)
What CAN we do when the enemy is near?
STAND FIRM IN YOUR FAITH.
That is resistance. Notice,
resistance is not fighting the enemy yourself.
Sheep forget:
--the enemy might not be visible
--the enemy may be hidden, waiting for the
right moment. . .when a sheep wanders too
far.
The enemy knows when the distance between a sheep and the flock or the shepherd is great enough.
The enemy strikes!
Defend yourself? Pastor read of a sheep in Australia
attacked by wild dogs. . .
Sheep can fight their attacker, their enemy.
They MIGHT survive.
But you don’t have to risk it. Stay close to Jesus.
Follow the Good Shepherd.
HOW MUCH does the Good shepherd care
for YOU, the sheep? Five ways.
[Based on the ways people experience Jesus and
“The Love Languages of God” by Gary Chapman ]
--As Savior, the Good Shepherd, has rescued us.
(Peter 2:25)
--The Good Shepherd is a sustainer. . .with gifts of
water and pasture season by season. The shepherd keeps his tools ready (they, too, are gifts for the sheep).
-- It can even be said that the Good Shepherd is a teacher. The sheep can learn the shepherd’s voice.
--The shepherd can help heal. . .
--The Shepherd will be with you always (time).
(Matthew 28:20).
The Good Shepherd NEVER runs away from the sheep, away from the flock.
Do you feel more as one of the Good Shepherd’s own flock? Amen.
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