Last Sunday we ended our evening study with:

1 Peter 4:17-19 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

We are in a battle for the souls of men and women and children. Satan has from the beginning launched an all out offensive against the Church of Christ. His activity has tremendously increased over the last fifty years, beginning with the sexual revolution of the 60’s and 70’s, and today moving into the radical left with the “you be you and I’ll be me” movement. Satan has taken progressiveness into the classrooms where our children are being taught, seeking to drag all of America down a godless pit of humanism. John Stonestreet of Breakpoint wrote:

“A few months ago, a friend told me of something that points to the level of cultural infection. She had asked a friend of hers, a junior high school teacher, how many students in {her} class identified as LGBTQ. The answer, offered immediately in a sort of “don’t you know this” tone, was, “Oh, all of them do”. “All of them?”, my friend replied. “Are they sexually active?” “Not at all”, the teacher replied. “But none of them want to be straight or cis”.

It is more fashionable to be transgender or same sex (or even bi-sex) oriented than it is to be plain old vanilla heterosexual. This is where America has drifted to.

We had a few Presbyterians come to our church when the Cumberland Presbyterians began to normalize sexuality that the Scripture forbids. They stayed with us a few years, then drifted back to their churches. Why? Because Satan keeps hammering through the media that what the Bible says is abnormal is actually normal. It is not fashionable to cling to the Word of God. It is as Jesus said:

Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

The narrow gate is traveled by few. It is uncomfortable. It is much easier to become a part of the crowd, to fade into the masses. But Jesus calls us to be the “light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14). The Apostle asks this question:

1 Peter 4:18 … if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall
the ungodly and the sinner appear

Word Study: The word “scarcely” is the Greek μόλις mólis, {pronounced mol’-is}, which means “with much difficulty, not easily”. You could translate it “with much work”. It was much work to lead people to Christ in the days of Peter, and it’s getting harder every year. God can break through the hardness of the human heart, but Satan is, sadly, often more active than God’s children are. It is the Holy Spirit that must awaken the sinner to the Grace of God, but the Holy Spirit will not do His work if we do not do ours. The wondrous Gospel tells us that:

Romans 5:5 … hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

The world does not want to hear about Jesus – but we must stay strong in Him. We are going to have friction – difficulties – problems as believers sharing Christ with the lost. The Chief Apostle simply tells us:

1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

Trust in God. Keep your eyes on Jesus. And grow in your knowledge of God’s Word!

There Are False Elders, And True Elders

1 Peter 5:1-4 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

As the leadership in a Church goes, so goes the Church. Peter now begins to talk to the “elders”. This is the Greek πρεσβύτερος presbýteros, {pronounced pres-boo’-ter-os}, which is found sixty seven times in the New Testament.

Among the Jews, the presbýteros or elders were those who studied the Old Testament Laws and it’s teachings, the authorities.

The presbýteros were often Rabbis or other high ranking leaders in the Jewish Synagogues. The Jewish presbýteros got away from the Word of God, and started adding their own spin to that which God commanded. When these presbýteros saw Jesus and His disciples eating, they complained:

Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

These Jewish elders ignored the parts of God’s Word that they didn’t like, and created laws out of thin air to judge others by. Jesus chastised them, saying:

Matthew 15:3-9 Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

The “elders” were not taking care of their aging parents, but abandoned them in their time of need. When asked “Why don’t you do something about your mother or father?” they would reply, “My free money is CORBAN, dedicated to God’s work and God’s Temple”. Then they wouldn’t donate the money, but would hide it. They did not love, and taught others to be equally loveless.

Tradition is not a bad thing as long as tradition is supported by God’s Word. The Jewish elders perverted God’s Command by their traditions.

Jesus told them, “You hold on to the tradition of men, but lay aside the commandment of God” (Mark 7:8). “You have made the Word of God of no effect through your traditions”(Mark 7:13). These are not the types of Elders that God wants in His Church – nor in His Israel. These people HATED JESUS, and often joined in with other unbelievers to attack our Lord. Who was it that attacked Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Matthew 26:47 … while {Jesus} yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders {presbýteros} of the people.

Who sat in the illegal night time trial of Jesus? The Bible says:

Matthew 26:57 … they that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders {presbýteros} were assembled.

When it came time for Jesus to be executed, who was it that suggested to the multitude that Barabbas the murderer be released, and Jesus be crucified?

Matthew 27:20 … the chief priests and elders {presbýteros} persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

As Jesus hung on the Cross, suffering for our sins, who was it who led the multitude in tormenting our Lord?

Matthew 27:41-43 Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders {presbýteros}, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.

And when Jesus resurrected from the Grave, who was it who bribed the guards at Christ’s Tomb to tell a lie?

Matthew 28:12-13 {the chief priests} were assembled with the elders {presbýteros}, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

An “Elder” is not just a person who has a lot of Biblical knowledge. Several years ago one of my favorite Science Fiction authors Isaac Asimov wrote a comprehensive commentary on the Bible called “Asimov’s Guide to the Bible”. Published in two volumes, it was released in a single 1296 page volume in 1981. Asimov stated,

“I am an atheist, out and out. … Emotionally, I am an atheist. I don’t have the evidence to prove that God doesn’t exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn’t that I don’t want to waste my time” (Free Inquiry,Spring 1982, p. 9).

Bible knowledge itself will not make you an elder. The Rabbis of Jesus’ day knew the Bible, but not Jesus. The Priests of Jesus’ day knew the Bible, but not Jesus. Who is, Biblically, an “Elder”?

True Elders Look Like Peter, James, And John

1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

The Apostle defines an “Elder” or presbýteros as someone like himself. Peter says, “I am also an elder”. An elder is someone who spends time with Jesus. Peter often spent time with Jesus.

• “Elders” makes themselves available to be with Jesus. When Jesus went to the Mount of Transfiguration to have an end times meeting with Moses and Elijah, who did He take with Him?

Matthew 17:1-3 … after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him

Jesus took special care to have three men – Peter, James and John – to be with Him at significant moments in His ministry. Why did Jesus take these three, and not the others? I believe it is because Peter, James and John were available for Jesus to meet with them. The other disciples were equally saved and called by Jesus, but Peter, when Jesus called Him, dropped everything to follow Jesus.

Peter, James and John loved to be with Jesus.

When the Ruler of the Synagogue called for Jesus to heal his little girl, the Bible says:

Mark 5:36-37 {Jesus} saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 37 And {Jesus allowed} no man to follow him, {except} Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Peter, James and John did not have to be chased. Jesus didn’t have to run from pillar to post trying to find them. They stayed close to our Master not because they HAD to, but because they WANTED TO. Because they made themselves available to Him, Jesus used them. We see the same principle in the Old Testament as well. Moses loved to be with Jesus (John 8:58), and every time Moses turned around, who was there? JOSHUA!

• Elders want to be Jesus’ shadow, regardless as to what others think. They allow Jesus to mold them. Peter was a rough fisherman, and yet he was willing to be shaped by Jesus. When Jesus met Peter …

John 1:42 (ESV) … Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).

Jesus renamed Simon as “Cephas” (which means Peter”. Why did our Lord do this? The Bible tells us in Matthew 13:55 that Jesus was known as “the carpenters Son”. The word “carpenter” is the Greek tekton, which means “a craftsman or builder”. An article at Lifeway Leadership notes:

“The majority of homes in Israel, as noted by Hebraic scholar James W. Fleming, are constructed with stone. Fleming explains: “Jesus and Joseph would have formed and made nine out of ten projects from stone either by chiseling or carving the stone or stacking building blocks.”

Jesus was a stone mason before He was known as Messiah. He called Simon “Peter” or literally “Rock” because our Lord was going to mold Simon like a mason would shape a rock. An elder has to be willing to let Jesus shape them, turn them into what He wants them to be. This is often a PAINFUL process. Yet the elder is willing for the Master Carpenter to hack and chip away all that is not God honoring and God glorifying.

• Elders lead the Church to prayer and to the presence of Christ. The Bible says that, following Christ’s ascension:

Acts 1:13 {the 120 disciples} went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

If you are infrequent in prayer, you will never be an elder in the Church. Elders build a habit of prayer, believing that “where two or three are gathered together in Christ’s Name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Elders are prayer warriors. One of the Elders that followed Jesus, the Apostle James wrote:

James 5:13-15 (ESV) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders {presbýteros} of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Elders Are To Be Faithful In Doing Christ’s Work

1 Peter 5:2-4 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Elders are called to “feed Christ’s sheep”. They are to grow in the knowledge of the Lord by study of God’s Word, and are to share what they know with the Church. The Elders are NOT bosses of the Church. The Apostle says, “Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock”. They are called to live their lives as examples for the Church to follow. Right after Jesus rose from the Grave, He spoke to Peter, saying:

John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

The Elders show their love for Jesus by caring for and feeding His sheep. How do we “feed” them? We do what Jesus said. When Jesus prepared to ascend unto Heaven, He told us:

Matthew 28:19-20 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Elders are to teach the things that Jesus has taught them. We are to “examples to the flock” in how we not only know the Word of God, but live it out every day. This is what the Church desperately needs in these latter days. The Church does not need worldliness, but the Word of Christ. Let us live together for His glory. In Christ Name I pray. Amen and Amen.