1 Peter series Humble Yourselves

                                                             Humble Yourselves

1 Peter 5:5b-11

In closing his letter to the exiled saints throughout Asia minor, it wasn’t Peter the great, Peter the magnificent, Pope Peter, or Saint Peter who sits at Heaven’s gate, but Peter an apostle and servant of Jesus Christ who writes to them. Peter has come full circle in his life, just as Jesus had reinstated Peter along a Galilean beach, with the exhortation to do the work of a shepherd. (John 21:15-19) Peter now exhorts the believers called to do the work of a shepherd of God’s flocks both old and young: do it in love, willingly without compulsion ‘for what is in it for me’, eagerly, not reluctantly, and in humbleness, not ‘who's the Lead’. It is in humbleness that Jesus came into the world, and in humbleness He served the lost and broken world, and in humbleness He went to the cross, gave His life for the salvation of all mankind who believe in Him. 

“So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.”

Peter’s message is one to all believers, We are to clothe ourselves in humility. Again, Jesus was Peter's role model. Jesus was born in a stable, wrapped in a swaddling cloth lying in an animal’s manger. In Jesus’ ministry time, he walked tirelessly to the towns, villages, and cities to share the good news with all who would listen. Jesus in the upper room, put on the servant’s clothing and humbly washed the feet of all the disciples, even Peter’s feet after he complained. (John 13:9) 

Peter had come to understand humbleness, the emptying of himself of pride, he came to understand it was not to think less of himself, but not to think of himself at all, and he came to understand to stand unconcerned with what others may say or do. Clothing himself in humbleness was now Peter’s mindset. Let’s look at the text, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you…” ESV

First, The suffering exiles need to clothe themselves with humility. It would have been easy to lash back in pride of who they were in race, gender, or age. Peter had been through all this in his own life, and he saw the eternal value of emptying oneself of pride. Pride was the enemy’s mindset, not Jesus’. They need to put pride in the human wastebasket of ungodly emotions and fleshly natures. The believers need to clothe themselves in the mindset of Christ (1 Peter 1:13-16; 2:19)

Application: Is the church of the twenty-first century an example of humility? Have we learned like Peter and the exiled christians how to clothe ourselves with humility? Pride is the devil’s primary emotion. He was cast out of Heaven because of it. He came in the guise of a serpent and brought sin and pride. Today, he is an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:13-15), a deceiver (John 8:4; Revelation 12:9), and the accuser (Rev. 12:10-11). If the church is to be victorious, we must empty ourselves of pride, and clothe ourselves with the humility and mindset of Jesus. Second, we understand, it is not about us, it is not about being pious or how holy we are. Humility doesn’t think of itself at all, it is all about Jesus and others. Imagine a body of believers whose main concern is not their comfort or perceived importance and freedoms, but to lift up others and edify people with the words and works of the Holy Spirit. Third, today’s believers must stand unconcerned with what others may say or do. The church of the twenty-first century is too concerned with appearance and the opinions of the world. Jesus and Peter have taught us that humility doesn’t care what others say about us or do to us. I heard a response from Mother Teresa that still resounds with humility. She was asked by the world’s press about her success in the world.  "We are called upon not to be successful, but to be faithful," "To be able to love the poor and know the poor we must be poor ourselves. (clothed in humility)" Again, is the church of the twenty-first century an example of humility? Please will you let God speak to you today about this?

Second, casting our anxieties on Christ. Peter remembers the words of Jesus “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matt.11:29-30 Message Bible 

Let’s look at the text, “casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

As part of Peter’s early life following Jesus, Peter grew anxious and worried about people getting too close to Jesus, the children running around Jesus, the concern for food to feed the multitude of followers, and almost dying in a boat and walking on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus taught Peter to cast his fears, worries, anxieties, upon Him. And this was a lesson that took awhile for Peter to learn. Jesus taught Peter and the rest of the disciples that Jesus cares for them, beyond anything that they could even imagine. Jesus knew where Peter’s mind and heart were at all times, and He knew that Peter would be the “Rock” in which the church would be built upon (Matt.16:18).

Application: How are we doing in the casting of our fears, anxieties, and worries? During this time of political chaos, economical trials, pandemic and vaccine, ecological stress, and religious, gender, and racial inequalities, these are not the contrivances and problems that the church should be stressed over. Our focus is Jesus! He said, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light'” We need to learn, and to put into practice trusting in Jesus, to be gentle and lowly in heart (clothed in humility), placing our frets, anxieties, fears, worries, and etcs aside, and know that the Holy Spirit lives in us. Jesus cares for all of His creation, and He is still interceding for every believer to clothe themselves with His humility and mindset.

Third, get serious and watch with alertness. Again, Peter admonishes the suffering exiles to standfast in prayer, and to be alert to the enemy’s attacks. Let’s look at the text, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”

The enemy has many foot soldiers, and in Persia, Daniel found out from the archangel Michael that a spiritual authority named the prince of Persia was resisting him as he brought a message to Daniel. (Daniel 10:13) Again, the believers were facing death, persecution, fatigue, hunger, and homelessness. And in probably every corner of their sojourn, they faced the battle with the spiritual forces in the heavens as well as the demonic powers rampaging through the Roman empire and pagan world. Paul, when he cast out the demon in the fortune telling girl, found himself and others under attack and persecution from the demonically possessed and controlled world. Under the Caesars, death of christians were increasing because of the pleasure it gave the Roman and pagan world to watch the sport of the arena, the power trip of demoralizing of christians by impaling some on poles, covered them with tar or pitch and setting them on fire to light the roads of the cities at night. And the ostracizing of christians, driving many of them to live in catacombs, and caves along the mountains. Peter saw  and knew that the persecution and suffering would increase, but that God gave grace and strength to all who believed and persevered. 

Application -   “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  We are in a battle with an unseen enemy, who has used flesh and blood to do their bidding. As the last days approach and darkness increases upon the earth, God said, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight [for He will come like a rushing stream which the breath of the Lord drives].” Isa.59:19 AMPC 

God has given us His Holy Spirit, and he has a church, the body of the believers in Christ Jesus armored in the Holy Spirit, as a standard against the enemy and his demonic cohorts. “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1 Jn.4:4  We stand not in our own power, strength, or abilities, “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Cor.10:3-5

These are but a few verses from scripture on warfare against the enemy of our soul. Today the church is in a battle, but I am not sure they know where the battlefield is. I hear many things about our political rights to freedom, our facing man-made laws to circumvent or blast away the standards of God’s Word, or the decrease of integrity of Truth, and the propagation of demonic doctrines in churches. Again, these are all the scheme’s of the enemy.  Paul said to the church that humbleness and forgiveness will “keep Satan from taking advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his schemes.” 2 Cor. 2:11  We should not be ignorant of the enemy's schemes either. We fight the enemy not in his manners or with his weapons, but with the Word of God, a humble and forgiving spirit, and with the strength of God’s Holy Spirit.

Last, God’s grace, and eternal glory: restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. Let’s look at the text, “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. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” ESV 

Peter knew God’s grace in salvation, as well as in life. After Jesus’ ascension, Peter became the apostle, the sent one for Jesus Christ. He preached on the day of Pentecost and 3,000 gave their lives to Jesus, but not without persecution from the Jewish religious authorities. Peter then found himself faced with the spread of the gospel to Samaria, and the conflict with demonic possessed people, (Simon the sorcerer, Acts 8:9-24), then Peter found himself faced with taking the Word of God to Greco-Roman world. (Acts 10), and last, Peter finds himself in Rome, to face crucifixion for his faith in Jesus. Peter had been restored by Jesus, confirmed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, strengthened through trials, imprisonment, and persecution, and established as the ‘rock’. Peter wanted all the saints and exiled believers to know the God of all grace, who called them to His eternal glory in Jesus Christ. His own life was a testimony of this marvelous grace.

Application - Throughout this letter, Peter has given us examples of his own life of following Jesus. He has exhorted us to live in humility, not to fight with pride, arrogance, self-righteousness and assertiveness which are the enemy’s scheme. 

God’s purpose and plan is to raise up the standard of a Holy Church, who is blameless, humble, forgiving, filled and sealed with His Holy Spirit, and full of God’s grace. He desires to restore what the enemy has stolen (Joel 2:25). He will confirm this by the armies of the Lord Most high, and the coming of His Son Jesus Christ. He will and has strengthened his Church with the power that raised Jesus from the dead and conquered death and hell, the Holy Spirit. And last he will establish you in His eternal kingdom. Jesus said, I have gone to prepare a place for you and I will return and take you to where I am. (John 14:2-4). He will establish us in His eternal kingdom, the place where he lives and reigns, a kingdom of light and glory.  

I hope these lessons have brought you hope and a challenge. Our Hope is in Christ alone. He has given us everything we need to persevere through the sufferings of these last days, and the challenge is to live with the same mindset and humility that Jesus and Peter and many others have left us as a witness. As the writer of Hebrews 12:1-3 said, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” 

Remember, God raises up the humble. “One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. Prov. 29:23;  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6; Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Pet.5:5

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Until next week. In His Service, Mike Davis