Praise, In Control, Hands of Grace, Here’s My Life

What position/s of leadership do you find yourself occupying today?

Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. 8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.  11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The apostle Peter once lost his courage, his clarity and even his sense of calling because he denied Jesus three times. So, he went back to fishing, and it was in this place of brokenness that Jesus met him. Not to rebuke or counsel, but to ask Peter one question: “Do you love Me?”. Peter experienced the Lord’s restoration and was commanded to “feed My sheep”. This was the position from where he wrote 1 Peter to show us how we can lead from brokenness through three different movements:

Submitted Posture: Brokenness Shapes How We Serve (vv. 1-4)

A broken person knows that he has failed God and results in a humility within him. He knows he doesn’t deserve to serve God; and out of that, Peter tells us to serve by applying the following principles:

1-STAY PLANTED IN YOUR PLACE (v.2)

God did not make a mistake placing you where you are. It was in Jerusalem where Peter denied Jesus, yet afterwards, he continued to shepherd God’s people there. There may be a lot of difficulty and pain in your ministry, but God placed you where you are now to do a greater work in you first. The place of your assignment is the place of your refinement (where God often uses difficult people to refine us).

2-SERVE WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVATION, NOT FOR EGO OR EARNING (vv.2-3)

A broken leader recognizes that serving God is a privilege. You don’t have to do this; you get to do this! We need to serve Him without any ego, and with the right motivation. We are to serve God with gladness and also given a warning not serving God with joyful hearts (Psalm 100:2, Deuteronomy 28:47-48). When you don’t want to be in your place of ministry, you lose your joy. But God’s grace changes you by taking you through a season of brokenness to destroy your ego. When you’re broken, you will serve God with gratitude!

3-LIVE FOR THE CROWN, NOT FOR THE CROWD (v.4)

Leaders want to hear affirmation from the people they serve that they are doing a good job. Leaders who have gone through brokenness realize that there is only one Person (God) they need to please. It doesn’t matter who likes you or not like you; your reward will come from the Lord! Don’t work for the well-known, work for the “well-done” from the Lord and His rewards (2 Timothy 4:8). Live for the applause of the nail-scarred hands, and not for men.

Sober Perspective: Brokenness Shapes How We Fight (vv. 5-9)

Ministry is not only spiritual work – it is spiritual warfare. There are four key things we need to watch out for:

4-STAY HUMBLE WHEN THE SPOTLIGHT FINDS YOU (v.6).

You will have to deal with pride in what you do because after God rebuilds you, He will put you in positions of influence and power. Stay humble! Come what may, you will be broken but it will be better for you if you humble yourself first, don’t wait for God to have to humble you. Peter had a pride issue – in his commitment and love for Jesus. Why did he fail, even if he was willing to die for Christ? It was not a high-ranking person who challenged Peter at the courtyard; it was a servant girl, nobody significant, and yet Peter denied knowing Jesus when she confronted him. He was full of pride, and that made him fall. That’s why Peter warns us to not let pride come into our life. Brokenness becomes your armor against the devil. The higher you go in leadership, the more you need to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). The higher you rise, the lower you must kneel.

5-HAND OFF THE WEIGHT YOU WERE NEVER MEANT TO CARRY (v.7).

Dealing with people in difficult situations causes anxiety in a leader’s heart. A broken person will not put so much on their plate just because they think they can handle it. Go to God and ask Him to remove what is not from Him and replace it by His grace. That’s why prayer is the tool that we use against anxiety. The apostle Paul gave Epaphras as an example of a prayerful pastor (Colossians 4:12-13). Saturate ministry with prayer. “Prayer is the work. Ministry is the gathering of the results.” (Watchman Nee). Ask God for grace as we disciple the nations.

6-STAND FIRM WHEN THE ENEMY ROARS (vv.8-9)

Peter understood that one of the battles you will face is the resistance of the enemy (Luke 22:31). Jesus told Peter to pray at Gethsemane, but he fell asleep! Brokenness teaches us vigilance; watchfulness is something to cultivate. Don’t blame the people you’re in conflict with because there’s an evil spirit behind that (Ephesians 6:12). Don’t take offense at people; go before God and ask for help.

7-SUFFER WELL, KNOWING YOU ARE NOT ALONE (v.9)

We cannot avoid suffering; we go through it so we can help others through it (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). This the breaking of expectations, competence and self-sufficiency in ministry. No matter you go through, God will not waste that “wound” or pain.

A Secure Promise: Brokenness Positions Us for Restoration (vv. 10-11)

God loves you and continues to love you; He has a plan to restore you.

8- TRUST THE GOD WHO MENDS WHAT WAS TORN (v.10).

God will not only break you; He will rebuild you. Peter experienced this, and that’s why he’s wrote with confidence. He thought his ministry was over because he denied Jesus. But Jesus restored him, confirmed his calling, strengthened and established him! From brokenness, Jesus will restore (katartizo: mend what’s been broken…mending torn nets), confirm (sterixo: make stable, establish firmly), strengthen (sthenoo: make strong, empower) and establish you (themelioo: lay a foundation, ground firmly). God will accomplish this, just surrender yourself to Him with your pain and brokenness all for His glory. He has called us (believers) into an eternal glory in Christ! GIVE GOD THE GLORY!

Pray for someone you know who is experiencing a season of brokenness.

Share the comfort of God to that person that you have also received from the Lord.

Tell them about Jesus, the only One who can save, restore and rebuild lives upon God and His promises.

• Worship God for who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in our lives.

• Upright and moral governance of public servants; repentance and salvation for government leaders and citizens for a Christ-centered Philippines.

• For legislators to promote and support bills and laws aligned with God’s Word.

• PRAY for the protection, safety and release of kidnapped American Christian missionary, Kevin, serving in Niger (West Africa). For God to turn the hearts of the kidnappers to repentance and salvation. Peace and comfort for Kevin’s family.

• Pray for persecuted Christians in Sudan and Nigeria) — many have been beheaded and murdered; earnestly seek God’s intervention to stop the bloodshed. Pray for freedom from oppression, that God’s word and His people bring them comfort and hope.

• PRAISE God that the rest of the living Israeli hostages have been restored to their families safely! Continue to pray that the last remaining dead hostage will be returned to his family for burial.

• For Israel’s war with terrorists to end according to God’s purpose and for His glory. For Jewish people worldwide who are experiencing a surge of antisemitism. May this lead them to the Messiah, Jesus as they turn to God for help and comfort.

• For nations in turmoil (e.g., Ukraine, Iran, Syria, etc.) to experience true freedom in Christ and become centers for massive spiritual revivals in their regions. Killings of thousands of civilians by Islamist regime forces in Iran and Syria to be put to an end by God’s mighty hand.

• That CCF Members would honor and love God and make disciples.

• For elders, pastors, dleaders, and families to become holy, humble, harmonious, happy, and heart-working.

• Ministries and churches expand worldwide.

• Worship and Training Center

• Prayer Mountain

• Deeper intimate relationship with God.

• Righteous living.

• Salvation of family and friends.

¹⁰ After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.