1. 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.

2. 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: 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 ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Review

3. 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. First God speaks to the elder members of the church, and especially those in positions of leadership : God holds us responsible for the welfare of the congregation: spiritual , physical , material . Our ministry is to be from a willing heart, without any thought of recompense or reward.

4. Now He instructs the younger members of the congregation. Submit yourselves unto the elder. To teaching and instruction. To their counsel. Follow their leadership to do those things they instruct you to do.

5. "Submit yourselves" We should never need to be brought into submission. A voluntary submission is a joy . To be brought into submission can be very painful .

6. The problem that makes leadership most difficult is a stubborn, prideful, unwilling congregation. Good leaders deserve good followers. Those who are led are responsible to be in subjection to men and to God. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty. The younger members are here commanded to submit themselves to the leadership of the elders.

7. Hebrews 13 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves : for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. The leadership is responsible for the well-being of the congregation. To fulfill that responsibility unto God requires the willing cooperation of the congregation.

8. 5b 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. Lest leadership should become proud and bossy , God here emphasizes the command for humility. Not for some, but for all. Subject means to be under obedience. But in the Kingdom of God, it is always voluntary. 5c "Be clothed with humility."

9. When people look at you, what do they see? When we are clothed (covered) with humility, That's what people see when they look at us.

10. Humility gives us a teachable spirit. We will not learn when we feel superior to the teacher. As long as we think we have a right to our own ideas, we will reject the Word of God. We will go our own way and suffer.

11. Wisdom is speaking : Proverbs 1 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way , and be filled with their own devices . Proverbs 16 18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

12. 5d for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. God sets Himself against the proud. He hates even a proud look. When God is for us, nothing can stand against us. If God is against us, we have no hope of success. Let's cultivate a submissive attitude.

13. November 11, 2009 Church Fellowship and Dinner November 14 at 1:00 PM This coming Saturday