The Pilgrim's Warfare: Victory Through Humility (Part 5)

1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: 2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; 3 nor as being lords 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 does not fade away. 5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Series - 1 Peter: A Message Of Hope For Pilgrims

Part - 5

Title - The Pilgrim’s Warfare: Victory Through Humility

Background

The Apostle Peter’s last exhortation: be aware of the warfare in your life

The Main Point

The pilgrim’s of Peter’s day are engaged in spiritual warfare on two battlefronts

the internal battlefont

internal warfare takes place in the person’s life - his/her desires, feelings, will - but affects the whole body of believers

Goal - to maintain order in a church that is under siege by persecutions

the external battlefront

external warfare is direct encounter with the spiritual forces in the heavenly places - these are the real enemies

Goal - to triumph over the devil who is behind all the attacks against their lives

Questions

How to you fight a battle in two fronts?

What happens when the battle is won?

Sermon Points

The key to victory in internal warfare is “humility”

1 Peter 5:5 NKJV

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

be submissive - applies to everyone, young and old

be clothed with humility

Submission is the fruit of humility - a humble disposition

a person of humble disposition is submissive to authority

the humble is always willing to submit to authority, esp. God’s authority

Humility enables mutual submission

mutual submission means there is respect for each one’s ability, calling, and function

Humility enables the elders to serve God’s people

elders must "shepherd” God’s flock by serving as “overseers”.

their service must be -

willingly, not by compulsion

eagerly - not for dishonest gain

exemplary - not as being lords over the people

Humility is demonstrated in two ways:

placing oneself under God’s mighty hand - “Your will be done...”

casting all your cares on God - by prayer, by confession,by complete abandon

They key to victory in external warfare is also “humility” - PLUS with sobriety and vigilance

1 Peter 5:8 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1 Peter 5.

be sober - be self-controlled

be vigilant - be watchful, alert, awake

Humility, sobriety and vigilance HELPS the believer to identify the real enemy

fellow believer - NOT ENEMY

Satan and his host - THE REAL ENEMY

people who oppose the truth - REAL ENEMY

Example

Jesus cried out, “Father forgive them...”

Humility, sobriety and vigilance ENABLES the believer to become aware of the presence, activities and schemes of the enemy

- uncontrolled anger is the devil’s opportunity to do his own work

Humility, sobriety and vigilance EMPOWERS the believer to RESIST THE DEVIL

James 4:7 NKJV

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

we can resist the devil when we are first submissive to God

we resist the devil by being steadfast -firm, determined - in faith

The Rewards of Victory

How does God reward humility?

God will exalt the humble in the right time

1 Peter 5:6 NKJV

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

1 Peter 5.

Joseph was exalted above all the Egyptians

Jesus was exalted above all heavens ()

Job was exalted and restored!

Those who endure - by resisting the enemy - God will…

perfect - equip, prepare for more effective service

establish - confirm, make more firm or determined

strengthen - make strong or stronger, make able to perform work

settle - ground, founded, to become unmovable

NOTE - These rewards are not future, after-life rewards. THEY ARE GIVEN TO US TODAY, IN THIS PRESENT LIFE!

Conclusion

Did you know? The most significant character of Christ when He was on earth...

not - grace, compassion, healer, power,

it was - HUMILITY

Philippians 2:5–11 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Isaiah 53:1–8 NKJV

1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, And who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

Isaiah 53.1-

Isaiah 42:1–4 NKJV

1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. 2 He will not cry out, nor raise His voice, Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth. 4 He will not fail nor be discouraged, Till He has established justice in the earth; And the coastlands shall wait for His law.”

Isaiah 42.1-

Are you having a hard time submitting to authorities, understanding your fellow Christians, accepting your fate?

true submission begins with a humble heart

true humility is allowing God to have His way for His glory alone!

true humility is NOT impossible.

Jesus set the example that we can follow by God’s help!

Look to Him! Follow Him!

SONG

Forever Grateful

Have Your Way

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