Showing Humility to One Another
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Playing the Blame Game!
Playing the Blame Game!
In the movie again I say dramatized for audience consumption….Captain Edward John Smith sees the icy waters of the Atlantic rushing over the surface of the bow of the ship. He picks up a megaphone and yells—abandon ship…every man for himself {EMFS}.
John Killinger tells about the manager of a minor league baseball team who was so disgusted with his center fielder’s performance that he ordered him to the dugout and assumed the position himself. The first ball that came into center field took a bad hop and hit the manager in the mouth. The next one was a high fly ball, which he lost in the glare of the sun—until it bounced off his forehead. The third was a hard line drive that he charged with outstretched arms; unfortunately, it flew between his hands and smacked his eye.
Furious, he ran back to the dugout, grabbed the center fielder by the uniform, and shouted, “You idiot! You’ve got center field so messed up that even I can’t do a thing with it!”
750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 619: Selfish Ambition
According to the New York Times, in the summer of 1994, a Virginia state trooper, who was a member of the bomb squad, and his dog, Master Blaster, became local celebrities when they found bombs at malls in Hampton and Virginia Beach.
That bit of celebrity evidently went to the state trooper’s head. A hidden camera later recorded him placing a bomb in a shed that he had been asked to search for explosives. He was arrested and later pled guilty to planting explosives at two malls, a courthouse, and a coliseum. He told investigators he had not intended to hurt anyone. The bombs—a cardboard tube filled with explosives, and pipes filled with gunpowder and nails—never exploded. He said he was simply trying to enhance his image.
Selfish ambition is one of the most powerful—and potentially destructive—motivations we can have. When we are in the grips of selfish ambition, we can rationalize almost anything.
The movie then cuts to scenes of mass panic where every man woman and children are doing just that panicking…a child is crying for his mother…men pushing others out of the way…individuals jumping overboard.
When frustration sets in…when things just aren’t how you’d like them to be…when danger or suffering sets in and the fear of loss is imminent what is your natural tendency?
I would venture to say that you and I are like most people…we tend to play the blame game…whether we want to admit it or not, this happens every day!
In actuality, Captain Smith most likely said those words not on a bullhorn to the masses but to a small portion of his crew after they had done all that they could do.
When you hear a crash at home in the living room where the children are playing and mom or dad comes in to see…and each child’s natural response is…I didn’t do it…and points the finger at the other…BLAME GAME!
So let’s give Captain Smith the benefit of the doubt.
However, in times of great distress it is the most natural thing for us to do to try to save self…. …every man for himself….
When you hear a crash at home in the living room where the children are playing and mom or dad comes in to see…and each child’s natural response is…I didn’t do it…and points the finger {EMFS}
Let’s look a little closer to home
When you hear a crash at home in the living room where the children are playing and mom or dad comes in to see…and each child’s natural response is…I didn’t do it…and points the finger {EMFS}
When something goes wrong at work—blame game…point fingers at someone else
When the marriage starts crumbling, neither spouse is enjoying this relationship any more…Blame game...“if my spouse would only change”
When the church is not growing…blame game…lets blame the pastor, the music, the younger generation, the older generation… or let’s just leave...
This is not anything new is it? We can trace the blame game, the escape at all costs route, all the way back to the garden of Eden…when God confronted Adam and Eve about their sin, what was their response?
The man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”
And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
Gen
Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Gen
Our natural tendency when the pressure is on is to blame someone else for the problem, we get filled up with the pride of self-preservation and we do anything and everything to protect our image…so we place the blame on someone else in hopes that we won’t have to answer for our side of the problem…we don’t want to handle our part of the problem so we come up with all sorts of excuses to justify our action or inaction...
Whenever and wherever people are gathered problems are inevitable…the reason why is we have this thing called sin in our lives and it impacts the way we think towards one another, and the way we interact with each other, both inside and outside the church.
At the root of every sin is this attitude of pride…I want this, I need that, and I…so in every relationship we encounter this attitude of pride and if not checked it can destroy the closest of friendships…
Where we tend to battle pride the most is during those times of stress and difficulty and suffering, something in your life takes an unexpected turn and somehow your plans or your comfort or your expectations have been altered, perhaps even painful or tragic…this is especially true inside the church…
Sometimes when you gather a group of sinners together who are trying to live together as one body, trouble comes and those same sinners can respond to that trouble out of the pride of self-preservation and that wrecks havoc on their unity and negatively influences their pursuit of the mission...
It is at those times of difficulty in the church when God’s people need to know how to be a covenant community of Christ-followers who are learning and seeking to practice the “one another”principles.
It is at those times of difficulty in the church when God’s people need to know how to be a covenant community of Christ-followers who are learning and seeking to practice the “one another”principles.
That’s what this series is about…it is a study of the places in Scripture that refer to how a community of God’s people ought to function with “one-another.”…both in good times and in bad!
The modern remake of Titanic gave us a glimpse of every man not for himself…Jack Dawson, a lower class youth who stowed away on the Titanic gave his life for the upper class Rose Calvert. Jack Dawson lost his life to save another….
The movie was one of the highest grossing films of history…
What inpsires is not every man for himself…but in times of pressure every man for another….
Captain Miller leading the 2nd Ranger Platoon to Save Private Ryan in Normandy FranceDesmond Doss risking his own life relentlessly retrieving wounded soldiers on Hacksaw ridge.Harry Potter laying down his life in front of Voldemort. Frodo laying down his life for middle earth
Our culture is filled with inspirational examples of clothing yourself with humility toward one another….thinking of another not self
Today we want to examine
This is a study of the places in scripture that refer to how a community of God’s people is to function with “one-another.”
Better together…
Today we are continuing our summer series Building One Another
This is a study of the places in scripture that refer to how a community of God’s people is to function with “one-another.”
Today we want to examine
And Paul also affirms… - But each man must be careful how he builds on it.
Today we are discussing
Exercise Humility with One Another
Exercise Humility with One Another
Turn with me to
Peter is writing to a group of believers—communities of believers, local churches, he sees trouble coming, suffering for their faith is on the horizon...and he writes about how to handle these coming storms.
The growing Christian movement was perplexing to the Roman society and misunderstood…and the Romans began to blame Christians for societal ills and around 64 AD Emperor Nero began persecuting Christians...
The growing Christian movement was perplexing to the Roman society and misunderstood…and the Romans began to blame Christians for societal ills and around 64 AD Empereror Nero began persecuting Christians...
The Romans began to blame Christians for societal ills and
Around 64 AD Empereror Nero began persecuting Christians..
Peter understood that the coming persecution could result in Christians loosing wealth, possessions and even life…and this was going to be a time when they really needed to stick to one another…to be there for one another...
Under the threat of experiencing great loss, some in the body of Christ might be tempted to abandon the body, each man for himself…pride of self-preservation…and that allow their pride to negatively impact their behavior towards one another…so in these times of great suffering, instead of every man for himself, instead of just looking out for self, show humility to one another!
So in , God gives us 4 truths to help us develop humility toward one another in order to stick with one another during times of trouble.
Please follow along with me as I read..
1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, (notice the shout out to the suffering) and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, (Notice that Peter is reminding the pastors that there is glory to come even though now there is suffering)
2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;
3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. (when life gets hard in shepherding the temptation is “every man for himself)
4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. [notice the future emphasis]
5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; [Not every man for himself] and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (there is our catch phrase for the summer), for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, (notice the connection..what happens in times of pressure…we start worrying)
7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In , God gives us 4 truths to help us develop humility toward one another in order to persevere in faith during times of trouble.
So when going through times of trouble, instead of self-preservation, show humility...
How can we do that?
Truth #1...
Recognize the link of your pride to Satan.
Recognize the link of your pride to Satan.
At first glance, when you look at the subject matter of this paragraph, Peter seems to be disjointed by addressing the differing topics of elders, young men, anxiety and the devil.
If Peter’s larger context is that of suffering it seems odd that Peter would bring up seemingly unrelated topics…look real quickly at just the immediate context…notice verse 1 says “therefore”…
What does , have to do with each other.
Young men—tempted to run away
Pride
Anxiety
What does , have to do with each other.
You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
The Devil
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
However, there is probably more interconnection in Peter’s mind among these issues than ours…
The same Greek word used for the devil, which is diabolos is the exact same word used for malicious slander and gossip...
s peter changing subjects?
…Is peter changing subjects?
…Did he loose his train of thought…
Did James loose his train of thought too?
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
If Peter is afflicted in this way, then his buddy James is also…Notice James connects the exact same concepts…
It seems that Paul is on that same train in his exhortation to Timothy...
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”7Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
Maybe James and Peter are both suffering from ADD and can’t keep their focus…
So if Peter, James and Paul all write about this, how are they related?
But if they are then their friend Paul is too…notice the connection between pride and the devil in Paul’s exhortation to Timothy.
and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
The same Greek word used for the devil, which is diabolos is the exact same word used for malicious slander and gossip...
Can we conclude then that neither Paul, nor James, nor Peter in our passage is struggling with ADHD—skirting around from topic to topic.
But let us recognize that these concepts are interrelated…
But how?
Perhaps this old quote from Puritan writer William Gurnall might help us. In his book “The Christian in Complete Armor”—which you can download for free in a pdf form because the copywrite has expired—says…
“O, if men have an apparition of the devil, or hear a noise in the night, they cry, ‘The devil! the devil!’ and are ready to run out of their wits for fear; [Now let me pause a minute and say, Some Christian traditions have an inordinate fear of Satan—seeing a demon behind every rock and casting demons out of everyone…But on the other hand, some Christian traditions are do not speak or talk about him and therefore are not sobered by his characteristics in us. Gurnall goes on to say….while some cry in fear the devil the devil….but do not recognize] they carry him in their hearts, and walk all the day long in his company, and fear him not. When thy proud heart is clambering up to the pinnacle of honour in thy ambitious thoughts, who sets thee there but the devil? When thy adulterous heart is big with all manner of uncleanness and filthiness, who but Satan hath been there, begetting these brats on thy whorish spirit? When thou art raging in thy passion, throwing burning coals of wrath and fury about with thy inflamed tongue, where was it set on fire, but of hell?—William Gurnall, The Christian in Complete Armor
“With thy inflamed tongue….you got to love the old writers…”
On a side note as I was studying, this week, I observed that the same Greek word use for the devil, which is diabolos is the exact same word used for malicious slander and gossip..
Embedded in the very word is the connection between our sin and the devil
Every time you slander/gossip/grumble about someone else you are deviling…we are following in the footsteps of Satan…and the devil uses your pride to consume you...
That exaltation/pride of always wanting to be right is deviling
If you are humble, you cannot be devilish…The devil has no hold on the humble—look at Christ...The devil found no foothold on our humble Savior though He tried….
The devil found no foothold on our humble Savior though He tried….
In times of trial…pressure…hardness
That exaltation/pride of always wanting to be right is deviling
That exaltation/pride of always wanting to be right is deviling
That pride filled tearing down of your spouse because they didn’t meet your expectations…is deviling.
Kids that grumbling against parents because in your pride you determined you didn’t get what you wanted is deviling…
Employees…that bitterness against the boss because he/she somehow violated what in your pride you thought was right and fair…is deviling
Second truth to consider is...
Secondly,
Pride and worry are anti-grace.
Pride and worry are anti-grace.
In this text, Peter mentions two manifestations of the heart in times of trial that we would do well to put off.
1) Pride and 2) anxiety (worry)
Peter says...1) “God is opposed to the Proud” and 2) casting all your care upon Him...
1) “God is opposed to the Proud” and 2) casting all your anxiety upon him
See our natural response in times of trial and pressure is to revert inward to self-concerns…PRIDE of I have to have what I have to have!
Put off Pride
Put off Pride
How do we define pride?
C. S. Lewis says,
“Well, now, we have come to the center. According to Christian teachers, the essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Unchastity, anger, grief, drunkenness and all that are mere flea bites in comparison. It was through pride that the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every vice. It is a complete anti-God state of mind.” –C. S. Lewis, Mere Chrisitanity
One other writer I read this week (Stuart Scott) said this…
“What’s the definition of pride? If we could sum it up, it’s the mindset of self, the pursuit of self-exaltation, a desire to control all things for self….Pride can be labeled as ‘practical atheism’”—Stuart Scott, Pride and Humility
Now, let me help define pride by relating it to its opposite…
Now, let me help define pride by relating it to its opposite…
What is the greatest commandment in Scripture? (Love God)
What is the second commandment like it..in Scripture? (Love others)
Pride is the exact opposite of Love God/Love others…where I think the world revolves around me and I believe all things, including people, exist to serve me!
Pride is the exact opposite of Love God/Love others…where I think the world revolves around me and I believe all things, including people, exist to serve me!
Therefore, this is why C.S. Lewis said Pride is a complete anti-God state of mind…practical atheism is living like you don’t need God!
C.S. Lewis….said Pride is a complete anti-God state of mind
Now, after Peter mentions Pride he mentions another natural response in times of pressure
If you want to study pride more I would encourage you to pick up Stuart Scott’s pamphlet on “Pride and Humility”
Now, after Peter mentions Pride he mentions another natural response in times of pressure
Anxiety…
In times of trial/pressure/hardship we worry.
Put off Anxiety.
Put off Anxiety.
Worry is really a “child” of pride, and it to tends to become a natural response in times of pressure and suffering...
How is that?
Remember C.S. Lewis’s observation about Pride leading to every vice?
When I worry what am I consumed with? Or should I say, “whom am I concerned about”…
When I worry… what am I consumed with? Or should I say, “whom am I concerned about”…
What will happen to me?
What will happen to my money?
What will happen to my family?
What will happen to my job?
What will happen to my earthly pleasures and treasures and securities…
This is the mind that is consumed with self and what will happen to me
This is the mind that is consumed with self and what will happen to me
Peter is writing during a time when persecution is rising…the very fear of losing everything was a possibility…and the temptation would be for pride to kick in and then it becomes every man for himself and instead of staying with God’s people you run away or start mistreating each other...
Elders — leaders could be tempted to lord over the congregation and force unbiblical demands and expectations on God’s people, to prey upon their fears and manipulate them, instead they were to be examples to the flock...
Young men (entire body) — instead of running away in fear, abandoning ship when times are hard, listen to your spiritual leaders and humbly submit to their leadership, especially in times of suffering
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this about worry…
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says this about worry…
“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
see both Pride and anxiety are “anti-grace”
…Pride and anxiety are “anti-grace”
Both worry and pride are “anti-grace”.
Both worry and pride are “anti-grace”.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble
The anxious person refuses to believe in the caring goodness of God
Holding on to your worries…all of the fear of loss of securities of life…you believe that God is not concerned for you and your situation…
If I am holding on to my worries…all of the fear of loss of securities of life…you believe that God is not concerned for you and your situation…
The clearest way to see the anti-grace nature of this is to look at the greatest picture of grace…the good news of Jesus Christ in the Gospel.
Let’s take an extended look at how pride is anti-grace…The clearest way to see the anti-grace nature of is to look at the greatest picture of grace…the good news of Jesus Christ in the Gospel.
The clearest way to see the anti-grace nature of is to look at the greatest picture of grace…the good news of Jesus Christ in the Gospel.
God’s grace in the gospel is that God has provided a way for you to be reconciled to your creator through Jesus Christ. This is God’s gift to you in His grace.
God’s grace in the gospel is that God has provided a way for you to be reconciled to your creator through Jesus Christ. This is God’s gift to you in His grace.
God’s grace in the gospel is that God has provided a way for you to be reconciled to your creator through Jesus Christ. This is God’s gift to you in His grace.
God’s grace in the gospel is that God has provided a way for you to be reconciled to your creator through Jesus Christ. This is God’s gift to you in His grace.
So, how do you receive grace…?
In humility you renounce your efforts in saving yourself through good works, theological knowledge, self-efforts to love God, or penance and accept Jesus Christ alone…. Jesus took the penalty that I deserved. Jesus bore the shame of my nakedness so that I can be clothed in His righteousness. Jesus took the courtroom trial for me..He was separated from His Father so that I could be reunited with the Father.
…the moment you renounce your self-efforts to save self…and believe in Christ…God treats you as having Christ’s righteousness—which means you can be with God upon your death….and you receive grace…
Now, there are typically two responses in rejecting the Gospel…
I am good and don’t need it…I don’t need grace…I am doing just fine. Some have said… “God is not that mad and I’m not that bad”…in this case…Grace is rejected because Grace is not perceived to be needed….I am sufficient in myself. I will save myself…
Secondly, some may recognize they are bad….they say…Well I am bad, but my sins are greater than God’s grace. God cannot forgive me and I cannot forgive myself…I will have to make up for it myself…in this case…God’s Grace is not sufficient, it is rejected in hopes that I will make up for my sins…
2) Secondly, some may recognize they are bad….they say…Well I am bad, but my sins are greater than God’s grace. God can not forgive me and I can not forgive myself…I will have to make up for it myself…in this case…God’s Grace is not sufficient, it is rejected in hopes that I will make up for my sins…
Self righteousness and self pity both manifest pride and reject the grace of God!
Self righteousness and self pity both manifest pride and reject the grace of God!
God opposes the proud…but gives grace to the humble….The humble who renounce their ways of saving themselves…
God opposes the proud…but gives grace to the humble….The humble who renounce their ways of saving themselves…
What are you doing when you launch into self-defense and self-justification in the argument with your spouse?
Let me illustrate that also…
What are you doing when you launch into self-defense and self-justification in the argument with your spouse last week?
Is that your way of “saving yourself?” –every man for himself
Like we talked about last week...What are you doing when you retaliate against one another—saving yourself—every man for his own vengeance
What are you doing when you worry about the loss of earthly pleasures and treasures—trying to cling to these items about which you are worrying—your way of saving yourself...
Do you know what enslavement to sinful anger, anxiety, despair, depression really is…. “failed or perceived failed efforts to save self”
What is the solution….
The third truth to help us is...
We Must Put on Humility
We Must Put on Humility
“…and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.”
“…and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.”
Clothe yourselves with humility
Clothe yourselves with humility
Humility says, “Stop trying to save yourself, rely on God’s salvation, and start turning your attention to loving (and hence ‘saving’) others.”
Humility says, “Stop trying to save yourself, rely on God’s salvation, and start turning your attention to loving (and hence ‘saving’) others.”
Humility: “Stop trying to save yourself, rely on God’s salvation, and start turning your attention to loving (and hence ‘saving’) others.”
Our relationship with Christ transforms us from “ever man for himself” to loving others...that is what Peter shared earlier in his book.
The only power of transformation is The Gospel and that is what Peter shared earlier in his book.
The only power of transformation is The Gospel and that is what Peter shared earlier in his book.
For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,
who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth;
and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;
and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Did you see what Christ did…? He set the example for us...He was not saving himself…but trusted God…with His security…and God would exalt him at the proper time….and because of Christ’s humility you were saved...
since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.
Did you see what Christ did…?
He was not saving himself…but trusted God…with His security…and God would exalt him at the proper time….and because of Christ’s humility you were saved...
Now…do you remember what everybody at the cross was saying to Jesus as he was dying…Save yourself…
And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”
What if Jesus had done that?
And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”. . . 39One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!”
Jesus save yourself and us also!!!!!
Do you see the irony of all of this…Jesus save yourself and us also!!!!!
If Jesus had saved Himself to prove He was God, and even if they believed He was God, they would still be lost and without hope because there could be no other atonement for sin!
If Jesus had saved Himself to prove He was God, and even if they believed He was God, they would still be lost and without hope because there could be no other atonement for sin!
He provided the means of salvation for everyone…and he couldn’t have done that if he listened to pride!
In not functioning as everyman for Himself…he provided the means of salvation for everyone…
In times of suffering and struggle, by turning our attention towards loving others, we are following the example of Christ in showing humility!
In times of suffering and struggle, by turning our attention towards loving others, we are following the example of Christ in showing humility!
In Loosing your life you actually gain it and may save others….
Refusing to respond in pride by turning our attention towards loving others is one of the best ways for us to follow the example of Christ in showing humility!
Refusing to respond in pride by turning our attention towards loving others is one of the best ways for us to follow the example of Christ in showing humility!
The last shall be the first
The humble will be exalted….
Humility: “Stop trying to save yourself, rely on God’s salvation, and start turning your attention to loving (and hence ‘saving’) others.”
Humility: “Stop trying to save yourself, rely on God’s salvation, and start turning your attention to loving (and hence ‘saving’) others.”
How are you trying to heal the chaos in your relationship?
Saving yourself…..or loosing your life on behalf of …your spouse...your children?
…your spouse
….your children?
…your peers/boss
…your community
Also the Gospel is the only power to help you overcome worry…
Casting all our anxieties on God
Casting all our anxieties on God
“…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
“…casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
If you are doubting God’s care for you all you have to do is look at the cross!
When the storms of this life come and you may loose earthly securities or even life…God has already shown his greatest care for you in establishing your greatest security—A home with Him..
When the storms of this life come and you may loose earthly securities or even life…God has already shown his greatest care for you in establishing your greatest security—A home with Him..
If worry is doubting the goodness of God then let that be forever settled with God’s love for you in Christ….
Fourth truth is to…
Remember the blessing for humility is God’s eternal security/salvation.
Remember the blessing for humility is God’s eternal security/salvation.
Throughout 1 Peter, Peter reminds us of the salvation and security to come as opposed to our attempts to save ourselves and our earthly securities…
Throughout 1 Peter, Peter reminds us of the salvation and security to come as opposed to our attempts to save ourselves and our earthly securities…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit;
, , , 10
To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
Pride and anxiety drive you towards temporal satisfactions that will not deliver in eternity.
Pride and anxiety drive you towards temporal satisfactions that will not deliver in eternity.
5:1 I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,
5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
5:6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,
5:10After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
The irony of Pride and anxiety is that we are gaining our security and salvation now but those earthly securities do not deliver for eternity
In pride, I always have to be more righteous, but there is always someone else more righteous and compared to God’s standards it is not enough…
In pride, I always have to be more wealthy but wealth evaporates
In pride, I always have to be more popular, to make a name for myself, but the praise of man last for 15 seconds
In pride, I always have to strive for health but health is fleeting…
Humility does not concern itself with present security (grabbing more of it than others) or worrying about it, it simply trusts God for it.
Humility does not concern itself with present security (grabbing more of it than others) or worrying about it, it simply trusts God for it.
Humility trusts God that
In Christ I will have His righteousness so my standing with God is secure—I don’t have to be better than you now…I can just love you instead of attempting to be better than you…
And in Christ I will have a resurrected body that lasts forever…I don’t have to despair about the diagnoses…I can use the terminal diagnoses to point you to my hope and hopefully save you…
And in Christ I will have glories and delights above earthly pleasures and treasures so I can be generous with my time and earthly treasures to help you….
And in Christ, God will give me a lasting name…so that I don’t have to make a name for myself now…I can simply lift you and your name up now…
He lived out what he wrote in his journal 7 years earlier on October 28, 1949, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”
But that is not the end of the story, His wife, Elizabeth, also was infected with this kind of seemingly foolish lack of concern for her own life….she returned to the same group of Auca Indians two years later, learned their language and shared the Gospel...
In Elisabeth Elliott’s daily radio broadcast that aired from 1988 to 2001 she almost always opened her broadcast with the phrase, “you are loved with an everlasting love”—
Notice the themes of from where our salvation/security comes, notice the grace that comes from recognizing that, notice the eternal security, in contrast to our foe the devil…
1. We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
We go not forth alone against the foe;
Strong in Thy strength, safe in Thy keeping tender,
We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.
2. Yes, in Thy Name, O Captain of salvation!
In Thy dear Name, all other names above;
Jesus our Righteousness, our sure Foundation,
Our Prince of glory and our King of love.
3. We go in faith, our own great weakness feeling,
And needing more each day Thy grace to know:
Yet from our hearts a song of triumph pealing,
“We rest on Thee, and in Thy Name we go.”
4. We rest on Thee, our Shield and our Defender!
Thine is the battle, Thine shall be the praise;
When passing through the gates of pearly splendor,
Victors, we rest with Thee, through endless days.
In Elisabeth Elliott’s daily radio broadcast that aired from 1988 to 2001 she almost always opened her broadcast with the phrase, “you are loved with an everlasting love”—
Notice from where her security came—not from every man for self, but the ONE who was for her in love….and this freed her to love
Humility says, “Stop trying to save yourself, rely on God’s salvation, and start turning your attention to loving others.”
Humility says, “Stop trying to save yourself, rely on God’s salvation, and start turning your attention to loving others.”
Let’s ask for God’s help.
Your spouse
Your children
Your church
Your community.