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Chosen To Be . . . SHEEP! (Sermon Audio)

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This is the audio from the August 4, 2024 sermon, “Chosen To Be SHEEP!”, shared by Tom Lemler at the Deer Run Church of Christ.

Text: 1 Peter 5

“Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalm 100:3 (NIV)

This morning’s message continued a series through 1 & 2 Peter with a theme of “Chosen To Be . . . “.  As God works the miracle of revival in our life, we discover He does so as the God who chooses us!  This is an important message to all who feel distant from God for whatever reason.  To those believers who are scattered around the known world, God communicates a message that they are known by Him, loved by Him, and chosen by Him.  As we gaze into God’s Word and examine what it means to be chosen by God, we find that we have been chosen to be . . .

  • Submissive:  1 Peter 5:1-4

    • It is the responsibility of each believer to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Even those who have leadership roles of any kind are to lead in such a way that they are serving those being led as they submit to the lordship of Jesus.  Shepherds of people only have that role as servants of the Chief Shepherd who sets the example of submission to God in all things.

  • Humble:  1 Peter 5:5-6

    • Our submissiveness is only possible when we learn to take on the attitude of humility which was found in Christ Jesus.  We’re just sheep in the pasture of God, and as such we’re not better or worse than the other sheep which belong to Him.  It is through a spirit of humility that we find ourselves prepared to be lifted by God in ways we could never lift ourselves.

  • Equipped:  1 Peter 5:7-11

    • The good news of being sheep is that it is the responsibility of the Good Shepherd to equip us with the protection which is necessary to stand against the attacks of the evil one.  Our ability to resist the temptations of evil is possible because our Shepherd equips us with spiritual armor that helps us to stand on the day of evil.

  • Encouraged:  1 Peter 5:12

    • As sheep of God’s pasture, we are part of a herd.  This means we are not meant to do life alone and we are not left to do life alone.  It is said that hurt people hurt people, which I believe to be true.  The good news for the believer is that it is also true that encouraged people encourage people.  We have the responsibility, and ability, to encourage others with the same encouragement that we ourselves receive through our connection with Jesus as our Good Shepherd.

  • Peaceful:  1 Peter 5:13-14

    • Some animals, and people, just seem to be mean by nature — good sheep are generally not that way.  In fact, as sheep of God’s pasture, He calls us to not only live at peace as far as it depends upon us, but to also be a peacemaker in everything we do.  When we surrender our desire to be in charge and learn to be a submissive, humble, equipped, and encouraged sheep with Jesus as the Chief Shepherd, we find the secret to a peaceful life in Christ.

Today, how will you live as one chosen to be SHEEP?

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