1 Peter (4)- Favor

Pray

Nik Wallenda is an American follower of Christ who has become the most-watched high wire artist and daredevil in the world. His two most recent feats were seen by a billion people across the world. In 2012 Wallenda walked a tightrope across Niagara Falls. In 2013 Wallenda became the first person to high-wire walk across the Grand Canyon.

Wallenda knows that he will be tempted by pride, so after the huge crowds and the media fade away he engages in a simple spiritual discipline: he walks where the crowds have just stood and quietly picks up trash. Wallenda recently wrote,

My purpose is simply to help clean up after myself. The huge crowd left a great deal of trash behind, and I feel compelled to pitch in. Besides, after the inordinate amount of attention I sought and received, I need to keep myself grounded. Three hours of cleaning up debris is good for my soul. Humility does not come naturally to me. So, if I have to force myself into situations that are humbling, so be it …. I know that I need to get down on my hands and knees like everyone else. I do it because it's a way to keep from tripping. As a follower of Jesus, I see him washing the feet of others. I do it because if I don't serve others, I'll be serving nothing but my ego.

We hear this story this morning and a few things come to mind. First, I remember watching Nik Wallenda on TV back In 2012 as he crossed over Niagara falls, and as I get older, I find myself saying more and more often: “Where did the time go?” Like time is flying by!

But here’s the other key. For Nik Wallenda, this is a man, who from an outsider’s perspective could justifiably have a certain element of pride in his life. Afterall, he has a unique skill set, I found he has 11 Guinness world record, he also has a massive following of millions of people and I’m sure financially, he’s doing well for himself as well… But here’s the key, despite the potential for having a big Ego, Nik realizes he’s desperately dependent on staying humble.

In fact, because of the nature of his job… if he doesn’t carefully watch his footing, if he allows himself to take his eyes of his next step… and allows his pride to get in the way, it could literally cost him his life.

We transition then to the idea of this sermon’s message. And I have to let you know, I was planning on preaching a sermon this morning on foundations to a healthy marriage… But Thursday came around, and God humbled me, and showed me that this week we’ll be talking about pride (and next week) I believe, we’ll be discussing marriage. Our Walk

But here’s where I want us to go for a brief moment… Think with me if you would, are you now, or have you ever had a season in your life where things were going great… and then all of a sudden, it was like you hit a brick wall? I heard Francis Chan preach a message on this subject once, and his illustration was like a beautiful salmon swimming upstream… and then all of a sudden, just being met with a great sense of resistance and set back… and in these moments of life, hitting a brick wall, facing opposition as you swim along… it’s like “man, what changed?”

Have you ever been there before? You see God is working in our lives… he’s chiseling away at our outer and inner self… that he’s in the business of transformation and restoration… His desire is to transform us into his image.

And because of that, he will look at these areas of our lives. Perhaps with our attitude and mindset and beginning there… he will shape and transform us. 1. Pride precedes the Fall. 2. Humility precedes favor. 3. Christ precedes Humility.

1. Pride precedes the Fall

1 peter 5: 1-5

1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

To give some context, I’ve included the first 4 verses. And here, as he writes, Peter is addressing the elders of the church, he writes: 1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: (he continues) : 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

And just to give some context here, Peter is writing and is addressing the elders of the church.and as a fellow elder, he’s encouraging the leaders of the church to shepherd God’s flock, with a caring, willing and loving heart, because that is what God has called them to.

And then in verse 5 we transition to this exhortation which explains: 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Now if we stop for a minute, it’s interesting that Peter would seem to single out those who are younger… But let me ask you something for a brief moment… Does anyone this morning have a teenager in your life, or one that you know of that seems to have it all figured out? (Show of hands) Does anyone have a teenager that thinks they know it all? (My wife would say I haven’t changed much)

Listen, let me tell you… I’m a few years away from these so called, teenage years… but if my kids are anything like me, let’s just say I’m gonna need a lot of prayer in the coming days.I mean teenagers have life all figured out. Right? when you were 15, or 16 years old… you probably thought you had it all figured out…

And so, peter writes: 5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. (So those that are younger are addressed… but then the scripture transitions to all of us. it continues) All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall

When we talk about this idea that Pride comes before the fall. Does anyone know the first instance of pride in the bible? You see pride is really telling GOD “I know better.”

Genesis 3:1 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’”

4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Here’s the point is Satan, crafty as he is… places this seed of doubt in eve’s mind. And says, “did God say…” LIKE DID GOD Really Say?And in this place of questioning what was best for their lives, Satan, puts a seed of doubt out there… he puts this bait out there… He twists the truth and brings Adam and Eve to a place where they think they know better. and their pride would lead to their fall… They thought they knew best.

Along these lines, I came across a story this week that explains: AT THE AGE OF FOUR, JOEL PAPER AIRPLANE WOULD fly… if only he could light the paper straw (the engine) that he had carefully glued to the aft of his expertly designed craft. Now, Since this was during the height of the 60s space race, and every rocket he'd seen launched into space had a large flame propelling it, it seemed perfectly reasonable.

When he approached his dad to assist in testing this breakthrough design, however, he was informed that lighting the straw would only set the whole thing on fire. Nevertheless, after days of badgering by the young Joel, his dad agreed to let him test fly his creation. He was convinced his father's insistence to wet down the back yard with the garden hose was nonsense, since he was sure the paper plane would immediately be sent aloft the moment the straw was lit.

The big moment came after dinner. With trembling hands, little Joel held the paper airplane and pointed it into the sky, waiting excitedly. His dad struck the match and lit the paper straw! But instead of the plane shooting into the sky, as Joel believed it would, it went up in flames! Despite Joel's deep belief that the plane would fly because of the power of the fire, the fire would end up wreaking havoc, leading to the plane’s inevitable destruction, and Joel’s inevitable heartbreak.

You see, Here's the point church. Joel thought he knew best… but really, his father knew best… and here was the problem, Joel didn’t want to listen. I mean The father had more wisdom, more understanding, more insight… and he tried to tell his son, but his son wouldn’t listen.

Friends, 1 John 2:15-17 16 For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.

And, since the beginning of time… Satan has been up to the same tricks… there’s nothing new under the sun. And for some of us, we’ve been going through seasons of resistance… and frustration and setback…

I would just ask you… is it possible that there is an area of pride in your life this morning? Because pride, precedes destruction. But here’s the good news…

2. Humility Precedes Favor

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5

Proverbs 3:34 He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

But here’s the good news... is that while pride leads to destruction and opposition… Humility leads to favor. For “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

Camp out for a moment and examine a few definitions.

To Oppose – By definition, carries this idea of military resistance. It means to “To range in battle against.”

But rather than meetings opposition. Humility brings about Favor. And Favor by definition means this: 1. “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness.” 2. Good will. 3. the token or proof of grace, benefit.

Doesn’t mean that you won’t ever face challenges or difficult circumstances in your life. Humility doesn’t mean that you won’t ever experience trials or suffering… But humility, meekness. It Leads to joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness. In life… - it leads to God’s good will … and I love this last definition. This token or proof of grace, benefit. And to me, I can’t help but think of driving down the road… on your way to a journey… and opposition In this journey would perhaps mean an armed Guard at a toll booth… telling you that you can’t continue on the road your own… Whereas favor would mean, not only is there not an armed guard, not only can you continue on this road… That all the fares have been paid for you… That there’s an open road in front of you and good things ahead.

I’m reminded of the words of Jesus in Luke 14:7-11.7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Here's the point this morning… Many of us this morning have probably been humiliated in at one point in life or another… I think of the classic example of a boy or girl in elementary school thinking or perhaps even bragging about being best friends with someone and so… expecting to get an invite to the birthday party but being left out… and perhaps that’s been you before or something like this has happened to your children.

It’s not a good place to be.

But if we go back to verse 11 for a brief moment, Jesus makes it clear that: 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled (not may be, but what? will be…) and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Friend as pride leads to destruction, so we see that humility leads to favor. Humility leads to being exalted. We understand this concept with society… but church, this approach of humility is the same with Christ. But here’s the key… Christ Precedes Humility.

3. Christ Precedes Humility. (not about us)

As we continue the discussion of Humility, it’s important to see that humility begins with Christ.

1 Peter 5:6-11 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.(Positional)

If we pause for a moment, we notice several concepts. First is this idea that we have the opportunity to cast all of our cares on Christ because he cares for you. Then in verse 8, we’re told to 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And as we observed earlier, we see that Satan as we all know, continues to prowl around. His goal is to destroy everyone in his path. And when we discuss this idea of Pride, you’ll recall that it was Satan in the garden who tempted Adam and Eve, Satan was behind their downfall.

But I want us to notice the source of humility. If we go back to verse 6 for a moment, what does it say? We’re told to: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, (where) under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

You see humility begins by a recognition that he is infinitely more powerful, more knowing, more Holy than we are… Humility begins by recognizing, that it’s not about us at all… but that it’s entirely about him. And so, we place ourselves under God’s might hand. But do you know what happens under his hand, he lifts us up.

Humility means “lowliness of mind” or “self-abasement” and as we talk about building our lives, and how God is engrafting us into his church, into his household and refining us into his image… This word abasement really stood out to me… and if you think of the word “a basement” let me just ask you… does anyone have a basement in your house. Where is the basement at? Right, it’s the bottom of one’s home. Friends as we build our lives, it must start with humility within.

Philippians 2:5-11 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Friends, are we taking on the role of a servant this morning? Do we have the same mindset? Are we making ourselves nothing this morning?

I’m going to call the elders up at this time as we prepare to take communion together... And as they come forward. And we conclude this idea of humility. We see that Even up to the final hour of his life, that Jesus was serving others…

John 13:1-17 1 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not everyone was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Friend, I’m grateful this morning, that Jesus would set an example for us, that we should follow in his footsteps. That even up to his final moments, on this earth, he would serve the needs of others. That he would wash his disciple’s feet.

In a moment the elements will be passed out… and if you’ve accepted Christ as your Lord and savior, then as the elements are passed out, we’ll prepare to take them together corporately.

But in these moments, would you go to the Lord and ask him if there’s a part of you, a part of your life that needs refinement this morning.

Communion