1 Peter 5:6-14 Embracing Humility, Defeating the Adversary

Intro: Every letter must have an ending…Peter has assured us of who we are in Christ Jesus. He has reminded us that we have been born again to a living Hope, we are the Temple of God, Living Stones built on the cornerstone Christ Jesus. He has called us to Holy Lives, to face suffering as a faith purifying fire and to respond to suffering with upright lives by God’s grace, we are Exiles headed to our heavenly hope but as ones who have a Christian family and home here and now, we have many relationships of authority to government, Husbands, wives, Elders, and ultimately a Suffering, Crucified, Shepherd Savior Christ Jesus, our living Hope seated in heaven…But the Letter must end.

Read 1 Peter 5:6-14 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. [14] Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (ESV)

Prayer of Ilumination:

Points 1-2 are the major ones and Points 3-4 are brief.

#1 Embrace Humility (v. 6-7)

#2 Embrace Watchfulness (v.8-9).

#3 Embrace the Glory of Grace (v.10-11)

#4 Embrace Encouragement (v. 12-14).

#1 Embrace Humility, look in verse 6

[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Pride and Humility are always in relationship to God. Its not just a you thing. Simon Kistemaker says, “As man must love both God and man, so he must demonstrate humility toward God and man.” (Kistemaker, 197).

If Pride is us elevating and puffing ourselves up in comparison to others.

Then Humility is a lowering, a down to earth-ness, remembering I am a creature. I have a sovereign creator who watches over me, He is my Father, and HE cares for me.

Do you truly see your life as flowing from God? Is he the fountain of your meaning and purpose? Is he the fountain of your soul and life? Is he the confidence and strength you turn to as you leave the house each morning? Is he your hope that when you are brought low by the world or your flesh, that he will lift you up and seat you at his table, that he will raise you up and give you a home? A place of belonging.

This is the promise of Jesus to us,

Recall Jesus and the Tax Collector [Retell Luke 18:9-14]…I thank you I am not like other men vs. God be merciful to me a sinner…only one left Justified…, those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted

Consider Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. The Poor in spirit, low and emptied are raised up and made Sons and Daughters of the King in the Kingdom of the Son.

Peter is not being hypothetical or philosophical about this. Remember how pridefully he said, Jesus, everyone may leave and abandon you but I won’t! I will stand by you. Peter was confident. Yet he was NOT watchful, he was NOT prayerful, he was prideful.

And so he was brought low…by the questions of a servant girl [Expand on story], and he cursed his savior mere feet away from him. John says he was close enough to look through the window and make eye contact with Jesus. Then he swore He did not know him.

Peter is Humbled in his denials; his pride cast him down…

But as he is humbled, he realizes he is poor in spirit, but he is in danger of being bruised and broken by sin. So as to Give up Hope.

How does Jesus respond to us when we are bruised and broken by our sin and pride? He restores. Peter is restored in sorrow and repentance by Christ, and Jesus asks him if he “loves him” and he is restored and picked back up and made a shepherd of the Church by Jesus.

Peter knows if we are under the might