Mighty Humble Prayer

Mighty Humble Prayer 1 Peter 5:6-11 Peter’s Pattern 1. 3 Command Couplets • Humble Yourselves … Casting • Be Sober … Be Watching • Resist … Remembering 2. Each is past tense, conveying urgency. 3. Each pair is a command and an explanation – the second explains the first by answering, “How?”. Set #1 – Humble Yourselves … Having Cast • Humble Yourselves (v. 6) 1. “Therefore” looks back to God’s take on the proud (v. 4) 2. Twice Peter emphasizes “under.” God uses a variety of means to accomplish His purposes, even wicked people. Fighting against these wicked instruments fights against the God who wields them (see John 18:1-12). 3. God will “raise you higher” in time • Having Cast (v. 7) 1. Meaning: “lay upon” or “roll out” 2. Cares – you are an object of God’s particular concern Set #2 – Be Sober. Keep Watch. • Sober – Opposite of drunk, distracted; have a clear mind. We might say, “Focus. Stay in the moment.” • Keep Watch – military term for the guard on watch. Again, we might say, “Keep your eyes peeled.” • Explanation – your adversary is more awful than you can imagine; he literally wants to “swallow someone alive” (see Hebrews 11:29) • “Walking” and “Seeking” – alludes both to Cain (Genesis 4) and to Job (Job 1-2) Set #3 – Resist … Having Remembered • Resist – “To stand against” (v. 9a) 1. Peter deliberately uses a Pauline word – Galatians 2:11 2. “Firm” – we get “steroid” from this word; this is a word to describe anything hard or firm (flint rock, base of a mountain, foundation, etc) • Having remembered that you’re not alone (v. 9b) Closing Assurance • The God of all Grace 1. This trial is temporary – it will last only as long as God wants it to last. 2. This trial is momentary compared with the eternal reward that awaits 3. God owes nobody – He Himself will heal all wounds, strengthen all pains, and confirm all doubts • The God of Glory – The same God who wants glory from this trial will be glorified forever.