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.

When I came across this the other day, I thought of Jerry Bridenbaugh, our Worship Leader and resident Lawyer. The man who told it to me started out with, “This is a true story, and there are court records that prove it”. This is from the British Newspaper, The Guardian:

“A lawyer in Charlotte, North Carolina, bought a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire. A month later, after smoking all the cigars, he filed a claim against the insurance company, claiming that the cigars had been destroyed “in a series of small fires”. Naturally, the insurance company refused to pay, arguing that he had consumed the cigars in the normal way. The lawyer sued and won. The judge concluded that, on the wording of the policy, the insurance company was liable – it had failed to limit its liability by defining what would amount to an “unacceptable fire”. .. The company, rather than incur the costs of appeal, paid up $15,000, whereupon it reported the lawyer to the police. He was arrested and subsequently convicted on 24 counts of arson – intentionally burning insured property – and sentenced to two years’ imprisonment and a fine. “This is a true story,” the report goes on, ‘and was the first-place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest’.”

When I first heard this it made me smile. The story first came out in 1996, and in 2003 Country Music singer and songwriter Brad Paisley wrote a song about it called “The Cigar Song”, which released on his 2x Platinum album “Mud On The Tires”. The cigar story is actually fake. Insurance policies are written so that deliberate actions of destruction by the policy holder cannot trigger payouts. For instance, if I get a life insurance policy then take my own life, the policy would be null and void. But I did think it was interesting that in the cigar story the lawyer ended up suffering from his poor decisions. Isn’t that what the Bible says?

The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23)

Here is a story I had hoped was an urban legend. In an article entitled “SBC Pastor Found Dead After Apparent Suicide Days After Secret Life Exposed” I read:

“On November 3rd 2023 at approximately 4:14 PM , the Lee County (Alabama) Sheriff’s Office received information that a welfare check was needed for Mayor Fred ‘Bubba” Copeland from Smiths Station. Deputies located Mayor Copeland in the Beulah community of Lee County and a slow pursuit was initiated. Mayor Copeland turned off of Lee road 279 on to Lee road 275 just north of Yarbroughs Crossroads and pulled over. He exited the vehicle, produced a handgun and took his own life. An ongoing investigation is being conducted by Investigators at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. … Copeland was the pastor of First Baptist Church of Phenix City, a Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church in Alabama; the mayor of Smiths Station, a town of less than 6,000 in Lee County, Alabama; and a convenience store owner.”

What caused this dear man – a Pastor, the Mayor of his town, a business owner, a married man with three children – to kill himself? He had a secret life as a transvestite. He had an online presence as Brittini Blaire Summerlin, posting sexually explicit content, images, and other forms of erotica. When his activities came to light Mr Copeland said that what he did was a “hobby to relieve stress”. If it were no more than a hobby or play, then why would he kill himself?

As I thought about these two things today – the Internet Legend of the false Lawyer, and the news story of the sad end of a man’s life – both have one thing in common.

When we depart from the Word of God and God’s Standard of what is right and wrong, we begin to walk a self destructive path. This was true with Adam and Eve, true in Noah’s day, and true even in the 21^st century!

God’s Leaders Must Adhere To The Word Of God

1 Peter 5:1-2 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

Word Study: As the Apostle Peter enters this final chapter, he “exhorts” the “elders” which are among the Church. Let’s start with the word “exhort”, which is the Greek parakaleō. This is an interesting word, because it is a compound: para which means “alongside” and kaleō which means “to call”. Peter is not talking down to the Elders, as if in a position of authority. He is calling them alongside. He is saying to every Pastor, Preacher, Evangelist, Teacher “Come here, let me put my arm around you and tell you something very important that I have been taught by Jesus”. Parakaleō. The word encourages (Luke 3:18). Parakaleō. The word comforts (Matthew 5:4). Parakaleō. The word pleads (Matthew 14:36; Mark 1:40).

Word Study: As Peter speaks to the “ELDERS” he says, “I am also an elder”. That word “ELDER” is the Greek presbýteros, which can mean “someone advanced in years”. But in this application presbýteros is a reference to a rank of office. The Jews had

Matthew 21:23 … Chief Priests and ELDERS {presbýteros}

Matthew 26:3 … Chief Priests, and the Scribes, and the ELDERS {presbýteros}

When the Church was formed, the Apostles …

Acts 14:23 … ordained them ELDERS {presbýteros} in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Elders are those who have believed on the Lord, who have sat at the feet of Jesus, and who are ordained of God to speak the truths of Scripture. The offices of Apostle and Elder (Acts 15:2) ruled on what was Biblical, taught of Christ (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22-23; 16:4). When the Apostle Paul went to Ephesus and called together the Pastors/ Elders of that Church (Acts 20:17), the Bible says that he encouraged those preachers, saying:

Acts 20:27-30 (NKJV) For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

Paul as an Elder did not “shun to declare to you the whole counsel of God”. He spoke the truth of God’s Word in love. Now Paul encourages these Elders, these Pastors to take heed or watch over the Church, that “the Holy Spirit has made you overseers”. The Pastor is to OVERSEE the Church, to ensure that it operates according to the rule of God’s Word. The Pastor is to “shepherd the church of God” for Christ, for it is Christ’s Blood bought possession. The Church does not belong to the Pastor, but to the Lord Who died for you. The Pastor is to stay on the lookout for “savage wolves {that} will come in among you”, those who “speak perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves”.

The Pastor, every Pastor of every Church that belongs to Jesus has one overwhelming commission. As Elders the Pastor is to FEED THE FLOCK the WORD OF GOD.

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you

The Pastor is to FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD. He is to FEED THE FLOCK “which is among you”. The Pastor is not called to entertain goats, but to feed sheep, to feed the children of God so that they might grow up to be like Christ.

When Peter encourages the elders, again, he is not speaking from a position of perfection. Peter has learned from his own life experiences that the Word of God is ALWAYS RIGHT. Let me say that again.

The Word of God is ALWAYS RIGHT!

Peter, like us all, had to learn the hard way. The Bible tells us that Jesus began to share with His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem to die for us all. The Scripture says:

Matthew 16:21 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

As Jesus is teaching this, Peter interrupts. “Not so, Jesus! This will NOT happen to You!” How did Jesus reply? He told Peter in His stinging rebuke:

Matthew 16:23 (NKJV) “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”

The Simon the son of Jonah that Jesus had given the name Peter (the Rock – John 1:42), now Jesus calls him another name. He is “SATAN”, for Peter is acting like the devil. The devil doesn’t MIND THE THINGS OF GOD, but is more satisfied with THE THINGS OF MEN.

Just as Adam was following the serpent Satan in the Garden of Eden, Peter is following Satan in Caesarea Philippi.

Peter was not an Elder then. He was learning to rest at the feet of Jesus. I don’t care what Seminary you went to. I don’t care how many doctorates you have in Theology or Ministry. I don’t care if you were on staff with Adrian Rogers, Charles Stanley, or Billy Graham. If you have not learned to rest at the feet of Jesus, to hear Him speak, to follow His commandments loving Jesus, then you are not an Elder.

The Elder heeds the Word of God. Not opinion, not that which satisfies the world, but the Word of God.

On another day Jesus was preaching the Word of God, and told the Disciples what the Bible prophesied of the Messiah in …

Zechariah 13:7 (NKJV) Awake, O sword, against My Shepherd, Against the Man who is My Companion,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Strike the Shepherd, And the sheep will be scattered; Then I will turn My hand against the little ones.

Jesus – the Living Word of God – was preaching this Written Word of God in:

Matthew 26:31-32 … “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32 But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.”

It was prophesied in Zechariah, and “scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). Jesus told His disciples that this hard Scripture was about to be fulfilled. The Shepherd, Jesus of Nazareth, will be captured, and tried before both religious as well as secular courts. Though no fault would be found in Him, He would nonetheless be killed. But Jesus will rise after three days. As Jesus says this, Peter speaks:

Matthew 26:33 … “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”

Here Peter reminds me of many believers in this present age. “I know what the Bible says – but not ME, it doesn’t apply to ME!” Jesus looks at Peter, and says:

Matthew 26:34 (NKJV) … “Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

Peter denied Bible prophecy. Peter denied the Living Word of God. Now Peter declares:

Matthew 26:35 … “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!”

But what happened? Peter went to Gethsemane with Jesus and the other Disciples. Jesus asked that they pray with Him – but they all fell asleep. Even Peter. Peter denied Jesus in the Garden in prayer (Matthew 26:44). Then when Judas Iscariot leads the Temple Guard to capture Jesus, Peter draws his sword, and cuts off the ear of one of the servants of the High Priest (Matthew 26:51). Jesus rebukes him, then “all the disciples run away” (Matthew 26:56). Peter follows from a distance, and outside of the trial of our Lord Peter denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:70, 72, 74). When the rooster crows, the Bible says that “Peter went out and wept bitterly” (Matthew 26:75).

The Word of God is always true.
The Word of God never leaves fashion.
“God’s Word is Truth” (John 17:17)

God’s Leaders Must Share the Word Of God

1 Peter 5:2-3 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.

Those who are Elders are to adhere to the Word of God, not to opinion nor political persuasion. It SICKENS me and I’m sure SICKENS Jesus when Pastors allow their Churches to become platforms for some political party. The Pulpit is for preaching the Word of God, for Feeding the Sheep.

After Peter denied Jesus three times – just as the Word of God said he would do – Peter took the disciples out on a fishing trip on the Sea of Tiberius. As they were fishing, Someone from the shore called out and asked “Have you caught anything?” They shouted back, “No”, so the One on the shore said, “Cast your net on the right side of the boat, and you’ll do better” (John 21:6). When they did so, the nets filled to overflowing! It was Jesus!

After they ate breakfast (John 21:12) our Lord Jesus spoke to Peter. He didn’t call him “Peter”, which means “The Rock”, but asked:

John 21:15 “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”

Do you love Me more than these other disciples? Do you love Me more than this great catch of fish – worth quite a bit of money? Do you love Me more? Peter replies, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus said,

“Feed My lambs”

These are the young Christians, those who will come to believe on Jesus. Jesus isn’t talking about feeding them FISH, but feeding them the WORD OF GOD. Feed My lambs. Jesus asks a second time:

John 21:16 … “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”

Peter replies, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” Jesus told Simon,

“Tend My sheep”

Look after My people. Make sure that they hear the Word of God. Keep the wolf at bay. Care for them. Then Jesus asked the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?”. Peter was grieved, and said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” To which Jesus once more said,

“Feed My Sheep”

The Elder, the Pastor, the Overseer of the Church is to care for his charges. He is to do so “not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind”. The Pastor should not have to be coerced into sharing the Word, but to do it willingly. The Elder should not be sharing the Word for “filthy lucre”, the Greek aischrokerdōs which means “from eagerness for base gain”. These deceivers have been around from the beginning of the Church Age, who creep into Churches to draw members away for their own gain. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Elders/ Pastors saying:

Titus 1:9-11 (NKJV) {The Elder/ Pastor must be} holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. 10 For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

There are many in the “Love Me” cults of today who subvert Churches, and draw God’s people away from God’s Word. The Elders are encouraged to stay strong in the Word of God, upholding what the Scripture has said regardless of popularity or polarity. Pastors are not to be “lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock”.

As the Pastor follows Jesus, the flock is to follow the Pastor. I’ll end with these words – though we’ll be back here next week:

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

The Pastor leads, following the Word of God. The Church follows, following the Word of God. God will not bless the Church that is not following His Word. Let us follow, loving Jesus. Amen and Amen.