Thrive in Humility

1 Peter 5:1–7 NIV

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.” 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.

Under God’s Mighty Hand- generally speaks of God’s power to intervene in history for the sake of his people. (Exodus 13:9, Deuteronomy 26:8, Psalm 98:1), as well as discipline on his people (Job 30:21)

Due Time: The time of a particular event.

Peter is not setting their hope on exaltation in this world but upon that which God has promised us in the end.

Remember the theme of this letter is one of enduring through suffering because of the Name of Jesus by responding with holiness and righteousness because of our new identity.

For Peter’s audience (and many around the world today) who are facing much persecution and threats because they have placed their faith in Jesus, and don’t worship the gods of Rome, or rather the Emperor - life doesn’t get easier or better in the atheistic materialist sense. Of course, they are thriving because of their relationship with God and His peace and joy, etc. But they are facing humiliation. This promise would be one of comfort and strength.

They may be humiliated in this world (and time) but the day is coming, as Jesus showed: humiliation at the cross but exaltation in the resurrection.

Yet this exalting may also be used in a more general sense that as we live in humility, God promotes us according to His plan for His Kingdom.

So we Humble yourself under God

Why? because he opposes/resists the proud and shows favor/grace to those who are humble.

Pride = An improper and excessive self-esteem known as conceit or arrogance. It is to be puffed up with an ego giving the impression of substance but is really only filled with air. It is an attitude of boasting in yourself for self-promotion.

Example: Pharisees and other Jewish leaders treated and spoke of those beneath their social level, despising them for they saw themselves better.

Both Herod in Acts 12 and Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel refused to give God the glory for their greatness.

Humility = in Hebrew language, carries the basic sense “to crouch or bend low to the ground.” It is the proper attitude of human beings towards their Creator. It is a grateful and spontaneous awareness that life is a gift, and it is manifested as an ungrudging and un-hypocritical acknowledgement of absolute dependence upon God.

We are reminded the words of Christ, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Humility is to be prepared to do his will, whatever that may be at whatever cost.

Four Points on Humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

My life is filled with examples of trying to make things happen in “my time.”

Humility does not promote oneself, rather it depends on God for promotion.

Example: King David.

Saul is King of Israel, he becomes quite disobedient to God and God takes the anointing to be king away and gives it to David.

Saul wants to kill David, David runs away.

This goes on for almost 13 years. This goes on for almost half of his life and as the rightful king.

The humility David showed did not make his life easier. It made it more dangerous and difficult.

We don’t promote ourselves, we wait on God.

David wasn’t just sitting around, he was doing shepherding things with those who were given to him by God.

God tells David in 2 Samuel 7:

I took you

I selected you

I have been with you

I have destroyed all your enemies

I will make your name famous

I will provide

I will give you rest

God will make a house for you

I will raise up one of your descendants

I will make his kingdom strong

I will secure his royal throne

I will be his father

I will correct and discipline him

I removed your enemies for you

God gives grace to the humble.

Humility - Does not get offended at God for what you are going through.

We don’t serve God because of what he can do for us.

We serve him and worship Him because of who he is.

Remember this is a persecuted community that Peter is writing to.

God has given us two gifts: faith and suffering. Philippians 1:29–30 “29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

Paul was not offended at God for the trials and difficulties He faced for the sake of the Gospel.

Not because we are masochistic or enjoy suffering but because of the privilege of being associated with the name of Jesus and experience what Jesus experienced via our association with Him.

If they hated me, they will hate you. John 15:18–21 “18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21 They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.”

We don’t get offended at God for the sufferings we face because we are associated with His name and claims of truth.

1 Peter 4:13 “13 But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

So I humble myself under God’s hand. Trusting in him through it all because of the promise, whether in this time or not, I will be exalted, I will be vindicated by the Lord.

1 Peter 4:19 “19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.”

Humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God requires the proper focus.

We are in pursuit of that which we love and desire.

Love money (hard to give away) you will pursue it. You will be a servant to money and not serve God, can’t have two masters.

Love the applause of people, you will live to please others rather than please God.

Abraham’s love and focus was:

Hebrews 11:10 “10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

His love and focus was not on this present world (that which we are not of) but on hope of what God had promised.

Hebrews 11:13–16 “13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

Paul’s focus:

Romans 8:17–18 “17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 “16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Polycarp

Why is this of such importance?

1 Peter 5:8–11 “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.”

How do we humble ourselves?

1 Peter 5:6–7 “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.”

Cast your care/anxiety because he cares for you.

He is the Good Shepherd with unlimited resources.

He cares for you more than you could ever care for yourself.

He is absolutely good, trustworthy, faithful, and powerful.

He is the one intimate with all our goings on and what we are dealing with. Give it to Him.