First of all...

1 Peter 5:5–6 AMP

Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,

The communion factor:

1 Peter 5God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Your enough is enough.

The battle of the two natures.

“To men and women everywhere Jesus says, ‘Come unto me, and I will give you rest.’ The rest He offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend.

“Our Lord referred to this tyranny of things when He said to His disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.” The battle of the two natures.

“Why do some persons 'find' God in a way that others do not?

The thing is that people can know about God, in some general sense, but, do they know him; do you know him.

Proximity is no substitute for actually knowing him,

Can you imagine me making my bed in your front yard, this is a stalker, not a follower.

God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Yield and trust is the antidote against Fear and Pride.

Yield and trust is the antidote against Fear and Pride.

In the infamous words of John Wayne, life can be tough, it will be harder if your stupid.

Look around and if people are peering at you out of the top of their reading glasses, I may be talking to you.

This is less a sermon against pride, than it is a call to wise living.

This is what we need right now, some wisdom

What ever thou doest, doest like a Christian.

Look around and if people are peering at you out of the top of their reading glasses, I may be talking to you.

God bless this mess is dependent on contrition.

“Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.” ― Ann Landers

― Ann Landers

“To great sections of the church, the art of worship has been lost entirely, and in its place has come that strange and foreign thing called the “program.” ― A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.

“To men and women everywhere Jesus says, ‘Come unto me, and I will give you rest.’ The rest He offers is the rest of meekness, the blessed relief which comes when we accept ourselves for what we are and cease to pretend.

“Our Lord referred to this tyranny of things when He said to His disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

“Why do some persons 'find' God in a way that others do not?

The thing is that people can know about God, in some general sense, but, do they know him; do you know him.

Proximity is no substitute for actually knowing him,

Can you imagine me making my bed in your front yard, this is a stalker, not a follower.

“Wisdom that comes from heaven is . . . peace-loving.”Some people don’t want to get along.

They would rather fight than talk. They yell when they should listen. They never give an inch because they think they are always right. They aren’t concerned about finding a middle ground because “it’s my way or the highway.” They are peace-breakers, not peacemakers.

The Greek word translated “peaceable” speaks to our attitude in times of conflict. James has already (3:14-16) warned us about a kind of “wisdom” that is earthly, unspiritual and devilish. That sort of “wisdom” brings chaos wherever it goes. But God’s wisdom is different. When wisdom from above fills your life, you will be an agent for healing and reconciliation.

Some people are like a human tornado A “peace-loving” person brings peace with him when he enters the room. He’s the opposite of the human tornado who wreaks havoc in every situation. Because he is at peace with God, he is at peace within himself, and he brings an atmosphere of peace with him. Solomon offers us an important word of wisdom at this point:

It is Gentle

“Wisdom that comes from heaven is . . . considerate.”This quality is hard to capture in only one English word. It means gentle, non-combative, not quarrelsome, not easily annoyed. You discover this aspect of wisdom when you are under the gun, when tempers are short, when you are worn out, when the demands of life overwhelm you, and when you seem to be swimming in a pool of hungry piranhas.If you have to shout, you lose

It is Persuadable

“Wisdom that comes from heaven is . . . submissive.”This quality may be easier to see if we flip it around. Earthly wisdom is arrogant and stubborn. It refuses to listen and has no desire to hear anyone else’s opinion. A man like this dominates every discussion, uses sarcasm to put others down, and demands to be the center of attention in every room he enters. He attacks anyone who attacks him because he masks a fragile ego with his terrible temper and his penchant for threats. He is the master of the put-down and the king of the clever one-liner.Can you disagree agreeably?

God’s wisdom looks nothing like that. The Greek word means “easy to persuade.” A person with this quality listens carefully because they want to know the truth. Don’t mistake this for being a pushover or a man of no conviction. A persuadable person holds deep convictions without feeling the need to parade them or to constantly argue about them. He listens to others with whom he disagrees because he believes everyone has something to teach him.

Can you disagree agreeably?

Can you discuss your deep convictions without losing your temper?

Can you listen kindly to someone who holds another position?

My friends, we desperately need a revival of kindness in our land. It begins with listening more and talking less.

It is Sincere

“Wisdom that comes from heaven . . . is sincere.”The final phrase means “without hypocrisy.” It originally meant “not playing a part,” referring to the ancient Greek plays where an actor would wear a mask while pretending to be someone else. One actor might play several different parts in the same play by putting on different masks.