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1 Peter 5:6-11
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Peter’s final exhortation to his readers again points them upward to God, and outward to others. He reminds them that humility is the foundation upon which both favor and blessing from God are established. In this paragraph Peter deals with two of the Christians most besetting nemeses, namely humility and anxiety. Do you know humility is actually a characteristic of God? Do you also know that anxiety is in fact, condemned by God? A person cannot embrace humility and anxiety together! Why? Because they contradict and counteract one another.
- OUR DECISION! V. 6 Look carefully at how Peter begins. He says “humble yourself.” Here is a truth you must learn humility is not something we do – it is what we become! True Biblical or Godly humility begins deep within the human heart. Humility is what happens when a spiritually dead heart realizes that The One and Only God has extended to it an invitation to redemption and adoption into God’s family. True Godly humility begins to develop its self in our heart when we say in our heart God, and all things God, must be the starting point of my life. The interesting thing is humility cannot be taught it can only be imparted by The Holy Spirit! If anyone says “let me show you how to be humble,” – they are no longer humble! Lewis Sperry Chafer says, “to become conscious of humility is its utter ruin.” Get it? Now consider
- OUR PROTECTION IN HUMILITY! V. 6 In the context of our current passage “under” means something, or in this case, Someone over, above, higher than, with greater authority! And in this case the something is the mighty hand, and the Someone is God Himself! The prerequisite to God’s protection is humility. And the divine humility we receive from God; 1st is 100% free of self determination, self desire, or self exultation: and 2nd is totally consumed with, and concerned for the other person at the highest possible level. Now notice that Peter teaches us that our decision to allow God to protect us under His mighty hand provides for us:
- OUR REWARD! As I study the Scriptures I find it interesting that in most cases God desires to provide for His adopted children all those things people pursue in this life! The only way to lasting exultation, recognition, and reward is by the way of humility.
- OUR PATIENCE IN HUMILITY! V. 6 Patience is one of those Christian virtues true Christians want; and most of the time they are so excited about getting it they wanted right away! Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. Here’s the simplest way I know to keep all this in its proper perspective. You focus only on what God asks you to do as he His adopted child – and let Him take care of everything else! Isn’t that deep and profound? With all of your heart you must want God to be the only sovereign ruler in your life. When that becomes the only desire of your heart, God then, gives you all the other desires you need so He can exalt you. Try it – you’ll see!
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