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Hey, welcome to the Reach Australia podcast. My name is Lisa and what you're about to listen to is the first of Andrew Reid's talks on the Reach Australia National Conference in 2022. We hope you enjoy. Friends, as we get underway today, I want to begin with an apology. Our theme for this conference has raised significant issues for me as a preacher and also for others.

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meant that we touch on issues of bad pastors, bad teachers as well as good ones and today's passage is similar but given our context I think doing this is not bad, that is it gives us helpful reminders but it also gives us a chance to present God's way in our Lord Jesus and that's super helpful and so with that said let's pray and ask God to help us as we look at this passage today.

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Lord open our eyes that we might behold wondrous things from your word soften our hearts that we might receive that word transform our wills that we might be people who do that word and then Father loosen our tongues that we might proclaim that word and we ask this for the glory of your son in whose name we pray Amen Amen. Well, Michael was raised in a strong Christian family. At 15, he had an intense

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experience of conversion. Life changed completely for him. He began to read the Bible voraciously and loved what he learnt. He wanted more, so he headed off to study at a theological college. He found a new church. He also found a new group of people who were intense about God. they stressed the need to be different from the world and even different from other Christians or Christian groups what's more the pastor was very impressive he clearly loved God he loved

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the Lord Jesus he spoke and preached with force and power and Michael wanted to be like him he also wanted to be like the other leaders of the church who were respected at the church so he listened intently to the sermons but before long he felt a pressure grow he didn't want to be like or in the place of those the pastor condemned from the pulpit he did not want to be one of those who failed to conform

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such people fell short of the standards that the pastor said should characterize the godly among were those whom the pastor sometimes publicly humiliated or discounted. They were clear targets in the pastor's teaching and preaching. No, Michael wanted to avoid those things, he wanted to avoid the humiliation that often came with it. He wanted to be a true believer, one known and esteemed. But then things

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stepped up a bit over the past in the pastor's language and behavior and the began to come. Threats against people leaving, threats against people questioning, threats about horrible and eternal consequences for failing to conform with God's will. Now Michael knew the pastor, he knew him to be a good man but the language and the threats grew and Michael's fear began to escalate. Shame grew. Guilt grew. Moreover, there was another

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worrying factor. What happened was that gradually, slowly, but inexorably, Michael's view of God began to change as well. God began to be something of a tyrant. Someone who was predominantly to be feared, not loved. Someone like his pastor, but even greater. Even more demanding.

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Even more fearful. Sisters and brothers in Christ, the picture I have painted is fictitious. but the portrait of a pastor and a member of his congregation is unfortunately not uncommon and I have helped people from this background. It can even be worse, it can be softer or more gentle but it is unfortunately, let me tell you, not uncommon. The malicious, manipulating,

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misled and even even well-meaning but mistaken leadership of God's people by people who should know better. It is all too well established among the leaders of God's people Christ's church has been historically but is today as well. So today what I want to do is to take you into a letter where one of the 12 disciples reflects on the ministry of such pastors and of pastors in general and as we examine it I want you to see in here that

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his picture of good pastoral ministry is very different and it is in many ways very striking profound endorsed by God in his word and for those of you thinking about or contemplating I hope it will stick with you, I hope it will drive you and shape your approach to mobilising the people of God. So take your paper or digital version of the Bible and open with me again at this passage, 1 Peter chapter 5.

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Before we jump in though, let's just review where we've been over the past day or so. In our scriptural exploration, we looked through the eyes of Luke, didn't we, at the ministry of Paul the Apostle. And today what we're going to do is look over Peter's shoulders as he speaks to those he calls his fellow elders. So as I said, have one Peter open and let's check out what God has to say through his apostle in this chapter.

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Now the first thing I want you to notice is that there are some differences here when we think about the theme of our conference. So though it fits within the general broad theme, when we look at what Peter has already said and then look at this chapter, there are some surprising things that happen. Because when you look at it, at first glance, it looks very unlikely as a passage for our main theme for these few days. It doesn't look about mobilising the people of God for ministry at all in many ways.

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But I want you to hold off the judgment on this. You see, I think that we might be in for a surprise. And just to show you, I want you to come with me as we consider what we know about the author of this letter. Now, you'll know lots of things about him. First, as already mentioned, we have an apostle, Peter. Second, he is one who therefore observed Jesus, the great pastor or shepherd of the sheep, at work. He saw him at work.

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third he is a witness of the sufferings of Christ as he himself inserts look at it in verse one he's a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed but again in verse one he's a fellow elder seeking to exhort elders so that's the portrait of Peter here a senior qualified elder advising other elders charging them equipping them as fellow partners in a fellow ministry or in a common ministry. So in other words, can you hear what

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I'm saying? Peter may be a knowledgeable and authorised apostle of the Lord Jesus. He may be one who knew Jesus in the flesh and spent years with him but he is also one of the people of God, one of them. He too is an elder of Christ's flock. He too is together them even together with some of us he is God's appointed servant serving the flock of God and

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as he reminds us verse 4 can you see it there he does so with his eyes fixed on what future glory that is to be revealed he is a fellow pastor a fellow elder fellow elder looking backward to what he witnessed a fellow elder looking forward to what will be revealed but there's more than that. You see I think that he's under the influence of someone he doesn't mention but someone I think we can track down. I think if we do some digging we can discover who

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this extra influence is. Now to do this I want you to remember Peter's foundation scriptures are what? Old Testament. They are the scriptures he was reared on. They are the scriptures his Lord knew and his Lord was loved and reared on. And his Lord loved and was reared on. And I have increasingly become convinced that Peter is an active reader of the book of

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Ezekiel. now at that point you might say hang on Andrew where do you get that from I don't see any reference to Ezekiel here no well friends you are right if you that's what you're thinking you're right to some extent however I think if you listen well and if you know your new your Old Testament well then you might hear the echoes of Ezekiel in his language and his approach let me show you just to give you a little glimpse and you can do some more digging yourself later on. Have your Bibles there and open them

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now, not at Peter but back at the book of Ezekiel. Find Ezekiel 9 and recognise what is going on. In verse 1, sorry I think I'm meaning 39 but I've got my notes wrong. In verse 1, instructions are given to Ezekiel. He is to bring executioners. In verse 4, do you remember this? They are to pass and they are to put marks on those who sigh and groan

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over the abominations that are being committed. They are to execute judgment on those who do not bear the mark. Particularly, I want you to notice where judgment begins in verse 6. It begins with the elders in the sanctuary. In other words, it begins with God's own household. I think this is 39. No, what have you got? Nine, I am right. Okay, thank you. Oh dear, well thank you friends for your observation and help. Now flip back to 1 Peter.

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Look at the closing verses of the section immediately before the one we're looking at. Peter is told in verse 17 that judgment begins with the household of God. That's the context of chapter 5 where God's elders are being told by their fellow elder that they are to rightly shepherd the sheep. if judgment is coming, they should shepherd the flock of God properly, verse 2. They should be ready for the coming of the chief shepherd,

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and as he comes, be clothed with humility, verses 4 to 6, and so on. In other words, Peter is saying that if judgment is beginning with the household of God, a la Ezekiel then as elders they are shepherds of the flock of God willingly not in domination they are rather examples to the flock so that's verses 2 to 4 of chapter 5

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they are to be Christ-like in character not dominating, not working for shameful gain verse 3. Can you hear the echoes of that of Ezekiel? I think they're there. Remember that this is the Apostle Peter speaking. He is telling them to not be like himself. To not deny Jesus as he did three times as it were. Remember this is the Apostle Peter of whom

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spoke, to whom Jesus spoke of lambs three times. Do you remember he said, can you remember it? Feed my lambs, tend my sheep, feed my sheep. Now with this background I want you to re-read verses 2 and 3. Have a look at it again with me. I want to labour this because I think it is important. Can you hear what Peter is urging upon other pastors here? Other pastors of God's He is saying shepherds like this are like the chief shepherd.

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Now look at verse 4. Peter is saying that shepherds like this will receive what? An unfading crown of glory. Why? Because they have been shaped like by their Lord. They reflect their Lord. They give glory to him. They are like him and they will receive an unfading crown of glory from him. but even more by their example and care they will model to the flock godliness

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they will also mobilize others to do the same with God's people or as same as God's people that will then flow over into positive examples to others showing young Christians how to how to live how to be subject to their elders verse 5 how to be clothed with humility toward one another verse 5 again knowing what that God opposes the humble but gives grace sorry opposes the proud

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but gives grace to the humble verse 5 again in other words can you hear what's being said their actions, their actions amongst the people of God will mobilise others. Friends, pastors and leaders among the flock of God, mobilising people to godliness, to Christ-likeness doesn't just happen when you're in the pulpit.

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no it happens in your actions as well that's what this passage is telling us it happens in your actions as well look at the second half of verse 5 the conduct of older godly elders should mobilize young Christians wow what a rich community is being advocated here rich learning rich mentoring both obvious and catching

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rich mobilising the body of Christ through interaction between young and old, experienced and inexperienced sisters and brothers this is in many ways counter-cultural isn't it? But this modelling, this modelling of others is so thoroughly, thoroughly Christian. Elders are elders and the younger are subject learners clothed with humility as it should be why

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because God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble verse 5 now please turn to me this turn with me to the second half of the chapter now I've tried to give you an overview and some grounding in my thinking Ezekiel has been at work in the mind of Peter but turn to the second half verses 6 to 14. There are a number of things to notice and the first thing to notice is the ongoing theme of humility picked up in those early verses now taken up again and I wonder if you remember the verse in the second half of verse 5.

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It's a favourite for me. I memorised it very early in my life as a Christian perhaps because of my sinful disposition it says God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble listen to it memorise it get people to keep you honest in this area then the follow-up then the command to those who have heard of God's grace look at it

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hear it in verses 6 and 7 and memorize it and live with it as Peter says humble yourself under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you casting all your anxieties upon him because he cares for you friends Michael's story that I told you earlier on is unfortunately not very well it is so very common often in our churches

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you see we we live in a world filled with people of fear that is we live in a world filled with people in need of heroes and the world we live in is filled with people who are just waiting to take advantage of such need and fear. That's our world and one of the places you see where such people thrive is in religious communities and the prophet Ezekiel knew it.

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He knew it and so he spoke to shepherds who were not acting as shepherds, who did not care for the sheep, who did not strengthen the weak, who failed to heal the sick, who did not search after the lost or bring back the strays, shepherds who replaced care with abuse, shepherds who reversed the role of shepherds, shepherds who acted like wolves among the sheep.

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friends the horror of abuse in the church has been paraded before us over these last years 10 years the last 10 years in particular and the stories are overwhelming and shocking aren't they but let me tell you that abuse by the clergy is not confined to sexual areas please listen to this it affects and infiltrates every area of our church quite often and the passage we have before us today addresses these issues but there's one thing that I think

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that we need to observe one other thing we need to observe about this chapter from the apostle Peter think again of the things I told you earlier on here we have seen a man who walked with physically walked through countryside with him, saw what he did. We have seen him now get older and we have seen him in this passage pass things on to others.

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And I wonder if I could summarise the things that I observed when I saw all of this. They are great goals for us in Christian ministry and they will mark the leadership that is exercised as whether it is truly Christian or not. That is, they will mark our ministry as walking in the footsteps of our Lord and Master or not. Did you notice them as we went along? The first set of things is this. Peter has let us know that whatever leadership we have is to be characterised by various things.

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First, it is willing. Hear that? It is willing. Verses 1 and 2. It's not under compulsion. It is willing as God would have it be. 2. It is not domineering. It is not manipulative in relation to those being ministered to. It has the best interests of others in mind.

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brothers and sisters in Christ I really do want to emphasize this you see increasingly I hear of pastors who are bullies people sidle up to me and tell me about pastors who are bullies who force their will upon their congregations that is not the way of our Lord it should not be the way of those who follow him Particularly not those who are shepherds in the steps of the Lord Jesus.

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Third, it is accountable to God and the leaders God has given us. That is very clear in verse 4. For those to whom God gives leadership, there is an unfading crown of glory if they have acted rightly and not forced their will upon others. the next point follows on from this one fourth whatever leadership God gives us must be characterized by Christ-like humility whatever leadership God gives us must be

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characterized by Christ-like humility you can see that in verses five to seven can't you please if you're Christian if you're in Christian ministry foster this attitude serve Christ in humility as he served in humility. He was, do you remember, humble to the point of death, even death on a cross, Philippians chapter 2 verse 8, humble to the point of death, even death on a cross. Next observation here has to do with the context of our service of Christ.

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here there are two things we can learn from this passage first the context of our ministry is a spiritual realm we work in a spiritual realm it is done in the context of an enemy the devil it is done under satanic in a satanic context in many ways under satanic attack and that leads on to another thing to say. If ministry is done in the context of spiritual opposition, then it will require

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at least two things, I think. What are they? One, watchfulness. Having our eyes opened. That is, can you see it in verse 8? We're told to be sober-minded, watchful, knowing our adversary, the devil, roaring lion seeking someone to devour. How many of you wake up with that on your mind? But that's what the day will bring. That's where the devil is. Second, it may threaten our faith.

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So it will require resistance on our part. As verse 9 says, we will need to resist the devil firm in our faith. Such threats are common for the godly that comes upon them. The devil has his eyes set on them. So be ready and prepare yourself to resist and stand firm in the faith and be of good courage for as verse 10 says after all and sorry even after you've suffered for a

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little while the God of grace who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. Friends it will happen. These are sobering words in this chapter aren't they? This sort of last little bit at the end of this short epistle so loaded with great advice for the pastors of God's people. great warnings great advice let's pray

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our father in heaven thanking you we thank you for sending your son into the world to die for sin we thank you for his suffering and the benefits that has brought to us and to the world we thank you that you have called us to minister before yourself and our lord jesus and with him So please help us to walk in his footsteps. But today we pray especially for our brothers and sisters in extreme situations of suffering for Christ and alongside Christ.

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We pause. We remember them. And we ask you to please be with them this day. as the God of all grace please bring before long that day where you the God of all grace who called them to and and us in eternal glory in Christ will yourself restore confirm strengthen and establish both them and us father we pray this in the name of our Lord Jesus amen

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we hope you enjoyed listening to that podcast if you're hoping to push forward in your leadership perhaps the reach australia development program is for you within it you get a church consultation monthly coaching and three intensives over the course of two years for more info go to