ROOTED: Living Scattered, Not Shattered
PART XI | ROOTED and Resolved | 1 Peter 5:8-13
Christopher Rich – May 22, 2022

This week we are going to conclude our series ROOTED: Living Scattered, Not Shattered. Many of us are realizing our roots are too shallow and weak to sustain us in the storms of life. We need good news greater than our current events. We need to be rooted in what is real, true, and eternal. When we are rooted in the transcendent, we are not reactive to the temporary. What does this look like? 1 Peter 5:6-7 | 6  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  7  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. We are humbled by God who is our authority. We are all under His “Might Hand” Our humble disposition toward others flows from our humble submission to the God of Glory.
Humility is not a path to humiliation but instead holds the promise of exhalation. We follow a path of cross to crown. We want the crown without the cross. But that is not our call. We are to both letting Go & Holding on tightly. Letting go of our fear and anxiety about the present or future while holding fast to what is true about God and our eternity with Him. Holding tightly to our cares and anxiety can be a source of pride, believing we have more influence over our circumstances than God. Every time we feel like we’re wandering in the wilderness, God knows this. We bottle up our fear and anxiety we press down and the pressure mounts and builds. God says let go, “let me take that, and put it over here and you do not need to be burdened by it any longer.” Rest is a gift when a burden is given over. When we give God our anxiety and pride,
He is faithful to give us both care and glory. He is our burden bearer and our comfort giver. In light of this we can rest in Christ and be Rooted to be Resolved.
Humble Gospel Confidence - To be resolved is to endure being uncomfortable for the purpose of a greater reward. There is a lot we will endure on earth before our final reward in Heaven. The whole of 1 Peter assumes and implies there is a greater life with God to come. Hope is essential. There is reward, rest, wholeness when we are deeply rooted in Christ, even living scattered in the world, we are resolved that we will not be shattered even in the face of great resistance and even evil. We all need to be Rooted & Resolved.

PART I | Resist a real Enemy |1 Peter 5:8-9
1 Peter 5:8-9 | 8  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.  9  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

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Resist a Real Enemy (5:8-9) – We must acknowledge the reality of the opposition to flourishing and faithfulness we face. We need to be RESOLVED. We are not home we are still in a dry and weary land. Being faithful, rooted, seeking to endure and run our race well, has become and will continue to be uncomfortable in a world that has rejected God and is actively opposed to His rule and regain. There is going to be increasing pressure compromise or capitulate with a world opposed to God. If you’re from the PNW this is not new for you. We dwell in a place and space that is not “post Christian” but is “Never has been Christian”. Let us not pretend it’s ever been easy or will become easier in the near future. There is constant pressure to call evil good and
good evil. We cannot be naïve on un aware we need to be focused.
Be Sober minded - Be watchful- This is a spiritual engagement. We give God our anxieties
and fear, but we also give Him and our spiritual life intentional attention. Sober minded means
use clear judgement. We have been hurt, we have suffered, our world is reactionary and we are
reactionary. Therefore, we need to breath, take a minute, or a day and come at things with
clear eyes not in the heat of anger or pain. Watchful a bit of an alertness, but can also mean to
be awake to what is going on. Be woke, to the spiritual battles in the world yes but especially in
your own heart. In a world constantly careening in to greater insanity a big part of the “battle” is
not with the culture or government etc, but is with your own heart. How are you reacting, how
are you engaging? Peter doesn’t say the devil is lurking to devour the church (though he’ll take
any perceived victory he can get) instead it says he is looking for individuals to deceive,
discourage, and eventually devour. To be on “alert” is not constant alarm. It is to avoid what one
commentary called “spiritual drowsiness” when and where we react to what is happening in the
world precisely the same as the world does. Where do you need to be more awake or alert in
your spiritual life? Where do you need clarity?
Lying Lion - There is real spiritual evil that seeks to devour our lives and destroy our joy.
Devil/satan refers to a spiritual being in direct opposition to God, leading other demons likewise.
The word is similar to one that translates as “accuser or slanderer”. Jesus calls satan the father
of lies. From the beginning he has fed lie about Gods love, law, design, character justice, mercy,
and grace. His lie are crazy making. He has both told you, you are enough, to puff up your pride.
So you put the weigh of the world on your shoulders then when you invariably cannot carry it
and part start to crumble He comes back with condemning and accusing you in your failures.
Jesus says rightly he has come to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus…. Jesus has come to that
we may have life and have it abundantly and fully. What lies about yourself, your sin, are you
believing?
Here the “devil” is characterized by a roaring lion prowling around to seeking to devour. To pick
of part of the herd/flock. To find those alone, weak, sick, not running with the heard. Spiritual
isolation from God’s people is not profitable to lead to enduring in the face of a real advisory. We
do not always need to flee. Here are told not to run but to resist. We do not need to cower in
fear, but rather be courageous with confidence in God. We keep our head on a swivel; alert
against our adversary so we can resist him. This looks a lot like regular spiritual disciplines of

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prayer, reading, gathering, community, serving, etc. Ephesians 6 talks about how we fight a
spiritual battles not against flesh and blood but against powers, principalities, and we do so with
the “armor of God” faith, truth, God’s word, etc. But this is never to be done alone.
We are not alone, we are part of a worldwide, history spanning, culture crossing, race
uniting, family. Our brothers and sisters across the world are enduring the same spiritual
opposition with us. Peter is writing to individual Christians, in individual churches, that are part of
networks of churches. As he tells them and us to resist, to stand, to endure, he is tying them to
the Global church. You are never alone in the struggle, we are connected with Brothers &
Sisters around the world who are all enduring various trial etc and who are staying rooted &
resolved even in the face of great adversity. Remember, Jesus told Peter the Gates of Hell will
not prevail in the face of Jesus Church. Jesus is declaring victory and He can because HE is the
greater lion. The devil might be hungry stalking lion, but Jesus is the LION of Judah (Rev 5:5)
who has conquered! You take out a lion with a greater apex predator. So when we are called to
resist it is not to charge into certain defeat, but rather because you have the great hope of
victory assured and secured. James says resist the devil and he shall flee from you. You don’t
seek out confrontation, but you can be courageous in the midst of it, not fearing the outcome. If
it looks like defeat, then it means the story is not done. Scar is taken out do not fear Simba is
King! In all our battles we all have hope because the devil is a defeated enemy. Jesus Wins!
We can be Resolved - Because Christ is For Us - We endure and enjoy in the midst of our
circumstances knowing Christ is our champion & no weapon formed against us will prevail.
While we may see and face more challenges and even battles ahead we continue to walk with
confidence when we are walking with Jesus and for Jesus we are on the right side of history no
matter the judgement of a world walking away from Him.
PART II | Restored & Established| 1 Peter 5:10-11
1 Peter 5:10-11 | 10  And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called
you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish
you.  11  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Restored & Established (5:10-11) – All suffering seems long and difficult as we are
experiencing it. Light & Momentary; Heavy Eternal Glory (2 Cor 4:17) - When we are
suffering we don’t think it’s light and momentary, when we are in, it’s intense and seemingly
unending and we think senseless. That is what we perceive. Here is what is true. It’s not
senseless it is purposeful and productive because it’s preparing us to both receive AND carry
and eternal “glory” that isn’t comparable when you consider its greatness. It is glory and life
eclipse distress and affliction they are seen as just a little while. This doesn’t minimize or
marginalize the pain it maximizes how great the glory is that dwarfs our despair. For the glory to
have “weight” means its substantial, valuable, and enduring. We have hope even in suffering
when we can see and know there will be an end, AND the end is GOOD! While it can feel like a
crushing weight and senseless suffering, it is purposeful and temporary. Temporary is such

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good news because we know that even in the worse seasons of suffering there is an end point
coming, each moment moving us closer to a time of final deliverance. This too shall pass.
What can we see? Affliction, death, decay, while discouraging we are not defeated
because So much of the pain is seen and felt but it will end. It will not last forever. Suffering
visits for season then will pass away. What is unseen? Perseverance, glory, life, renewal, all
unending and never fading. The hidden treasure we carry the gold veins of healing, the
spiritual bonds of unity are all unseen but they are also unending. What brings us pain is
temporary but what brings us joy is eternal. Do not lose heart, keep running the prize is unseen
but inexpressibly glorious.
Our perspective of suffering impacts our perseverance in suffering. Weather long season
or short episode, we are promised our suffering will always be temporary, but our glory in Christ
will be eternal. We may be weak and wounded, but Christ’s work for us and in us gives us
healing, restores our strength, renews our souls, and establishes deep roots. This is good news
in our suffering that in addition to it being temporary it will not define us. When we suffer, we
experience great loss. We lose life, moments, days, seasons, years, of pain sometimes is
relational loss or material loss. We feel robbed leading us to greater bitterness and at times
prolonged suffering. This makes sense if this life is all there is if our past defines our present
more than our future does. But Peter is constantly calling us back to look forward to what is to
come. It is not good news if our suffering ends only to have us still in a place of loss. In our
suffering, as comprehensive as our losses are that we rightly grieve, and we rest and are
resolved in Jesus’ ability and promised restoration is even more comprehensive. Jesus who
has suffered for you, suffered with you, will renew you fully!
Restore- This is to me made whole, that all suffering has taken from you will be returned
completely. It means it is ok not feel whole right now or to feel like something is missing
because it is. It will be fully restored.
Confirm- Your identity is secured. Your suffering will describe you but it will not define you.
While true suffering will take status and honor from you will be given and help up in place of
privilege.
Strengthen- Not all suffering makes us stronger sometimes it makes us weaker. We lose will,
vitality, the ability to resist or endure. We come to the end ourselves. This is where Jesus meets
us in the Holy Spirit to give us strength, to fill what we lack, to equip where we do not know what
to do or even what we are missing.
Establish- We will be deeply rooted where God has called us to be to be fruitful and flourishing.
God is rooting us in eternity to be who He has always intended us to be. We will be secure and
immovable.
Do not enjoy pain, grieve loss, sense and acknowledge what is missing then look forward to
what is to come. Never forget who is in charge To HIM be the Dominion, How long? Forever and
Ever Amen! Maybe it be so!

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PART III | Stand Firm & Rest in Christ |1 Peter 5:12-14
1 Peter 5:12-14 | 2  By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you,
exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.  13  She who is at
Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son.  14  Greet one
another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
Stand Firm & Rest in Christ (5:12-14) – Peter has encouraged us to be rooted, relying on the
grace of God given to us in Jesus so we can live fruitful lives now and enjoy eternity forever.
Like the church in Rome and in Asia, we are elect exiles. “She who is Babylon” is a refernce to
the church who is Rome the very center of all that is opposed to God’s rule and reign. They
might have cultural, political, economic power but even Babylon, Rome, China, Germany, or
America is NOT able to keep God’s church from growing and flourishing even in the midst of all
that can be done to harm her. She has endured, she will endure, and she will be called home.
We can be ROOTED because Christ is IN US! In Jesus Christ we have a hope, identity,
purpose, and destiny that is both timely and transcendent. 1 Peter helps us be ROOTED in who
we are, where we are going, and how we live today in a world uprooted from the truth of God.
We are not planted in a perfectly cultivated orchard, protected from harm. Instead, we are
scattered in an inhospitable wilderness. If we are going to survived and thrive, we need to be
deeply rooted to remain both faithful and fruitful in the face of significant adversity. We need
steal backbones we do not need to wilt or wither but we can and should be Resolved to both
stand firm in what is true about the Gospel AND Rest in what Christ has done for us. The world
is going to tell you move on change follow, God has told you to stay rooted in what is true in His
grace to you.
We can stand firmly rooted in the Gospel while resting our present identity and eternal destiny in
the peace, person, and work of Jesus Christ. As a church, as part of THE church we will
continue to be be warm, hospitable, welcoming, and encouraging of the church. We will
continue to stand firm in the simple acts of faithfulness individually and collectively being
disciples of Jesus who Gather, Give, Grow and Go on Mission.
Our Peace is in Christ! We will walk with the knowledge that He’s the one who brought us here
for our growth, our good, and ultimately for glory. Humble Gospel Confidence. We are humble
because we know how weak and dependent we are. We are joyful because we know how loved
we are. We are encouraged and confident because we know where our strength is found. We
invite everyone and let them real life is rooted in a God who has big enough shoulders to carry
all His people as they continue to simply Trust Jesus!
Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him. I want to close by honoring some faithful Brothers
& Sisters who have bless our church & THE church in our region for years.