Gracepointe Church (Dover, OH)
Gracepointe Church (Dover, OH)
Spiritual Strength in Challenging Times | Shawn Miller
Unlock the transformative power of humility and discover how it serves as a cornerstone of strength in times of adversity. Dive into the timeless wisdom of 1 Peter 5:6-11 as we reflect on how early Christians embraced humility amidst persecution. This episode promises to guide you in understanding humility as a force that enhances, rather than diminishes, your confidence and abilities, enabling you to build strong, supportive communities. By putting others first and keeping a teachable spirit, you'll learn how humility can become a source of resilience and unity, empowering you to stand strong with others through life's toughest challenges.
Join us on a journey to spiritual vigilance and grace as we explore the profound themes of hope, divine comfort, and God's eternal promise. Picture yourself at the mercy seat, finding solace in prayer and quiet reflection, while we discuss how to maintain a sober and alert mind against the adversary's schemes. With God's abundant grace as our guide, we are called to be His hands and feet, sharing His love and word with those who have yet to know Him. Concluding with a heartfelt prayer, we seek strength and purpose in fulfilling our mission, reminding us all of the eternal glory that awaits through steadfast faith and commitment.
But the focal point will be on verses 6 through 11. Remember, as I read the text this morning, let's not forget the setting that the first hearers of Peter's message here, the setting that they were in. They were dealing with persecution, they were in a hostile environment with persecution, they were in a hostile environment, and here Peter is going to be admonishing them how to act within their circle, how to conduct themselves within their circle. And then he goes on into the future hope. Let's read verses 6 through 14. 1 Peter, 5, verse 6.
Speaker 1: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, greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. Let's pray Our Father, god, as we look into your word this morning, I pray that you might speak to us in a clear way, lord. I pray that whatever is said could be for your honor and your glory, and we pray that you might grant the increase. I pray this on your name, amen.
Speaker 1:This morning, I'll be focusing on verses 6 through 11, but I'd like to backtrack into verse 5 as we get started. Verse 5, starting. Actually, I'll just read the whole verse. Likewise, you who are younger be subject to the elders, but here is where I'd like to really start focusing on Clothe yourselves, all of you, not just the younger, not just the older, not just the single, not just the married, not just the single, not just the married All of us with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, and then he follows that up with saying Humble yourselves, therefore, not only to each other, but under the mighty hand of God. Humble yourselves before God. So this morning I'd like to take a look at what does it mean to be humble? Three points this morning that I'm going to look at. The first is be humble, the second one is be watchful, and the third one is be steadfast. Be humble, be watchful, be steadfast. These are all in these six verses that we'll be looking at. I'd like to open it up to you.
Speaker 1:To what do you think of when you think of the word humility? What do you think of? If you think of a person that is humble, you don't need the mic, just tell us. If something comes to mind, just shout it out. Putting others first. Approachable, approachable. Treating strangers and people of different statuses all the same, not a respecter of persons? Curious, that's good, able to listen.
Speaker 1:Oh, do you think Peter was telling these people in the setting that they were in to clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another? With the persecution that they were facing? It was important for them to get along with each other. That should have been the least thing they had to worry about with all the persecution they were facing from the outside. They needed to stand together in order to stand strong. It's sad that a lot of times, churches or organizations crumble from strife within more than they do because of the pressures from the outside. That is very, very sad.
Speaker 1:So what does it take, what does it mean to be humble? So what does it take, what does it mean to be humble? Humility, actually, in this sense, in this context, means simply lowliness of mind, to clothe oneself, to cover oneself with lowliness of mind. No one person in here has all the best ideas. No one person is better than anyone else. All of us have limitations. All of us need each other, the power of team, the power in numbers. At work and I know I've quoted this here before, but I'll say it again At work, we often use the small phrase no one is as smart as all of us.
Speaker 1:No one is as smart as all of us. However, lowliness of mind does not mean that we can't have confidence in our accomplishments. We can't have confidence in the abilities that God has given to us. Humility is not a lack of confidence. Being humble does not mean diminishing the work that God has done through us as his people, but it does mean using those accomplishments to serve others rather than ourselves. Humble yourselves, all of you with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Verse 6,. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that, at the proper time, he may exalt you A few characteristics of a person of humility.
Speaker 1:A humble person keeps on working when no one is praising him. He remains calm when falsely accused. He is teachable and always ready to do the small things that aren't easily noticed. He is teachable and always ready to do the small things that aren't easily noticed. He does not become envious when someone surpasses them in ability and achievement and is willing to hear another's point of view. This sounds like an idealistic list, and it is, and none of us, I think, will ever fully accomplish the list that I just read. But I think it needs to be our goal as Christ's servers, as servants of Jesus, to make sure that we, within the team that we have here, are humble enough to hear each other's opinions, are considered enough to know that my ways aren't always the best way. We need to get along if we are planning to make a difference outside of this organization or any organization, outside of this organization or any organization.
Speaker 1:Turn in your Bibles to Philippians 2. I'd like to read verses 1 through 16. And again, jesus. I always like to go to Jesus as an example, all of these traits that we've been talking about. Through 1 Peter Jesus has been such a prime example of all of these, and it's no different in humility. Philippians 2, verses 1 through 13.
Speaker 1:Philippians 2.1. So, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but, in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours, in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, if anyone would have had the right to be anything but humble, it would have been Jesus. He was actually God on this earth.
Speaker 1:Having this mind among yourselves, which is yours, in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men and being found in human form. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. I wonder if it ever crossed Jesus' mind. Surely there's somebody else that could do this. Surely there is somebody else that could be the ultimate sacrifice. Why do I have to do that? But he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death. Therefore, god has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that, at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God, the Father. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that, at the proper time, he may exalt you. That is exactly what he did to His only Son. Today we have the confidence. According to Scripture, jesus is interceding for us, and we'll look at that a little bit further on in the sermon. Jesus is our advocate. He has been promoted to the highest position. He has been promoted to be the right-hand person of God himself. He is our advocate, and for that we are thankful. Today, god sees those who live humbly before Him. He will exalt, which means to lift up in due time.
Speaker 1:My mind went to Joseph. Joseph and all his brothers. I know they accused him of being the favorite son, his brothers accused him of different things, but I think all throughout Joseph's life he had a sense of humility that I know I can't quite grasp in just reading the story. Can't quite grasp in just reading the story. When he was falsely accused he stayed calm, ended up in prison, did whatever he was asked of in prison and his time came when God exalted him above most everybody else in Egypt, except for the person he reported to. What a story of humility. Then. He changes almost changes a little bit of direction. Peter does and goes from humility into verse 7, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you. And as I studied this, the thought comes to mind why did he all of a sudden insert this, a verse that's so familiar to us? Then again, if I think of the setting they were in, I imagine there was a lot of anxiety and I imagine there was a lot of worry about what's going to happen to us here in this setting, in this hostile environment.
Speaker 1:It takes humility to admit that at times we need help Us as human beings for sure, living in America and with living in a land of plenty, having the freedoms that we do for myself, it's very easily to become complacent and to all of a sudden, by default, think that I can do things on my own, if we have good jobs, if life seems to be going fairly smooth, and all of a sudden God becomes almost like a I'll use you on demand type of thing. That's not what God intended. If I get into that mode that displays the heart of pride and not humility, am I willing to ask God for help? Are you willing to trust God for help? Do you believe that God cares for you? This morning it's easy for us to say that, yes, I believe that, but do I actually believe? I don't know what all you're going through this morning? And I imagine with a crowd of this size, there's somebody in here that might be struggling this morning and you might be wondering why am I not hearing from God? You might be in what we're going into as far as a season, the winter part of your spiritual life, to where it just seems nothing's, and you might actually wonder does God care? Does God care? Matthew tells us ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find Knock and it shall be opened unto you. But you might be even questioning that. Is there truth to that? I've asked and I've prayed and it seems nothing's happening. I've asked and I've prayed and it seems nothing's happening, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
Speaker 1:I'd like to turn to song number 470 in your hymn books. This is an old hymn, but I'd like to sing a few verses of this song this morning, in case there is somebody here that is really struggling and you're wondering does Jesus actually care? He does, he does, even if it doesn't seem so at times. He does. He's proved it again and again. I like to sing just verses 1 and 4, and then I like to turn over to another song when we flip the page and sing another one as well.
Speaker 1:Does Jesus care when my heart is pained too deeply from earth and song as the burdens press and the cares distress and the way grows weary and long? Actually, I think we'll sing verses 1, 2, and 3. We'll skip verse 4. Second verse does Jesus care when my way is dark, within nameless dread and fear, as the daylight fades into deep night shades? Does he care when my way is dark, within nameless dread and fear as the daylight fades into deep night shades. Does he care enough to be near Verse three? Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed to resist some temptation strong, when, for my deep grief, I find no relief, though my tears flow all the night long? Oh yes, he cares, he does. Does Jesus care when?
Speaker 2:my heart is pained Too deeply for mirth and song, as the burdens press and the cares distressed and the way grows weary and long. Oh yes, he cares. I know he cares. His heart is touched with my grief, is touched with my grief when the days are weary, the long night dreary. I know my Savior cares. Does Jesus care when my way is dark cares? Does Jesus care when my way is dark with a nameless dread and fear?
Speaker 2:As the daylight fades into deep night shades. Does he care enough to be near? Oh yes, he cares.
Speaker 2:I know he cares His heart is touched with my grief when the days are weary, the long nights dreary. I know my Savior cares. Does Jesus care when I've tried and failed to resist some temptation strong when, for my decree, I find no relief though, my tears flow all around my heart? Oh, yes, he cares. I know he cares. I know he cares. His heart is touched with my grief when the days are weary and the Dies dreary. I know my Savior cares.
Speaker 1:Flip the page to 474. This is a song, more of a subdued kind of song, and this morning my encouragement to you is if you find yourself in a spot where you're wondering, does Jesus care? As we sing this song, just put yourself in this place of what this song calls the mercy seat. That mercy seat could be visually at the feet of Jesus. It could be at home in your prayer, closet to where you meet God one-on-one. It could be anywhere you choose to have that mercy seat. But if you're going through a tough time as we sing this song, just put yourself there and experience God's peace and God's love from every stormy wind that blows.
Speaker 2:As we get into verse 4, 3 or 4, if somebody wants to add the desk hand, please go ahead and do that every stormy wind that blows from every swelling fire of woes, there is a calm, a sure retreat, tis found beneath the mercy sea. There is a place where Jesus sheds the oil of gladness on our heads. Are placed Then all these eyes. More sweet it is the blood of mercy's skin, her spirit left where friendles, fellowship with friend, under far like faith, they meet Around one common mercy seat. Mercy Seed, hold at my hand O gather skill. My tongue is silent, cold and still. This bounding heart. Forget to be with God, forget the mercy see first point was be humble, and God does care.
Speaker 1:If we come to him in humility and make our requests and throw our cares on him, he will respond. He does care. Be humble, be watchful, be watchful Verse 9 or verse 8, be sober-minded, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour. In this section, peter exhorts his readers to be mentally and spiritually alert in order to simply resist the devil. The devil is always looking for easy prey.
Speaker 1:Right now we have two cats at home in our place. I am not a proclaimed cat lover. I like cats if they kind of run when I approach. I like cats that do what they're supposed to and that is catch mice and rodents. We have one cat. His name is Barney, he's a tomcat and he is a killer. Thank you, ivan and Cindy, for the free cats. He is a killer and, in case you're wondering, it was a black and white one. He kills mice, he kills chipmunks and he kills anything that in his mind he can handle. And I've observed him and once in a while I look out the window and he's just sitting out in the grass and he's just watching. Then, after he's sat a while, he'll get up and he'll crouch down and he'll just slowly start moving and his prey probably doesn't notice it or doesn't even see him. But right when he's ready to pounce, oftentimes his tail starts going like that and then you know it's about to happen. I like barney because he does what he's supposed to do. Yesterday I was doing leaves out back behind the driveway and he was sitting out close to the woods and he was literally. He was just sitting there and just watching and I don't know if he killed anything or not, but he's a good cat.
Speaker 1:What Barney does in stalking his prey is exactly what the devil does with us. Another thing Barney does after he catches something. Here a while back I saw him out in the yard. He had a chipmunk and he had a chipmunk close to a tree. And after he catches his whatever, then he takes him into what I call the torture zone. He doesn't kill it right away, he'll let it run, actually this chipmunk, a couple of times he let it start running up the tree and then he'll pounce and grab it again and he'll knock it around, just swat it around. Look the other way, not pay attention. All of a sudden chipmunk's running away and he'll go and pounce. He'll just play with it and then, of course, he'll kill it. Isn't that exactly what the devil loves doing with us? He'll grab us and then we think we've conquered, he'll let us go a little bit and then he'll try to grab us again. He stalks us like a roaring lion or like Barney the cat stalking his prey, not with the intent of letting anything get out of its grasp, but with the intent to kill.
Speaker 1:The devil has one thing in mind, or three things in mind. The devil has three things in mind, and that is to steal us from God, to kill our spiritual life and then to destroy whatever we had in mind. To steal, to kill and destroy. Be watchful. Being on the lookout requires being sober-minded. Sober in this context means to be self-controlled, free from any form of mental or spiritual drunkenness. That could be anything from our busy lives to where we're not sober-minded and watchful. I have my mind on way too many other things other than watching out in order to not become that prey of that roaring lion. It might be sin in my life. I've experienced it. Where I've had sin in my life to, I could not think straight. I could not be sober-minded because of the guilt that I felt. Our material focus. It's easy we're in this world and we have to make a living, but it's so easy to get our mind on only that. That is not sober-mindedness when it comes to being watchful.
Speaker 1:Satan's goal he comes, like I said, to steal, kill and destroy, and Scripture backs that up. Satan's goal is to alienate and separate us from our relationship with God, from our relationship with God. Satan is threatened by our relationship with God. In Revelation 12, we read that Satan. It calls him the accuser, an accuser of the brethren. It says he accuses us day and night before God. And that just really angers me. That just really angers me. That just really frustrates me Of us as Christians trying to live lives that honor and glorify God and being involved in His work. And then we have our adversary, our enemy, literally telling God that he's of no value. He did this, he did that. Don't you realize that? But I want to follow that up with saying 1. John 2 tells us, like I mentioned before, that Jesus is our advocate and Jesus is more powerful than Satan is. Jesus pleads our case to God, the Father. That's Scripture. Jesus is our advocate. He is there batting for us. He is there promoting us to the Father. He is stronger than Satan.
Speaker 1:This morning, folks, I want to challenge myself and all of you with this thought the most effective way of watching is having a daily relationship with God, the Father, to where we're not just sitting idle and making sure we don't become the prey of Satan, but instead we are familiarizing ourselves with what is good, we are taking on the power of the Holy Spirit, we are clothing ourselves with the Holy Spirit because of our relationship to God. Then our watching actually happens. We are focused on Christ and not on what will Satan do to me. If we're focused on Christ and we are living by His example, then we are more powerful than our enemy is. The most effective way of watching is having a daily relationship with God, our Father. So we had be humble, we had be watchful, and my last point here is be steadfast, be steadfast.
Speaker 1:Versefast. Verse 9 resist him firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of sufferings 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, confirm, strengthen and establish you. Be steadfast. Be steadfast in your faith, and if we are steadfast in our faith, we will be able to resist what the devil brings our way. In order to resist the evil one, we need to be strong in our faith. All Christians will face Satan's fury, and part of the reason for that is because the earth is his domain. Someday he will be cast into his own lake of fire forever and ever, but as of today, yet, he's roaming to and fro, seeking whom he may devour.
Speaker 1:Peter is telling his readers here stand strong, humble yourselves, be strong from within, which will make you strong from without. Suffering is actually an accomplishment, because it is proof that we are in association with Christ. If you are not feeling any pressure from the devil. It could be one of two things, I believe our relationship with Christ can be that strong that the pressures of Satan diminish, and the flip side of that is totally the opposite. If you're totally in his grasp, you probably won't feel the pressure of Satan. Where are you this morning? Where is your allegiance Then? In verse 10, and I just read that Peter concludes this letter with a rich benediction of blessing and hope.
Speaker 1:Folks, this morning, no matter what you're going to, if you're on top of life right now, or if life is on top of you, or if it feels that way, there is hope, there is an eternal reward coming. He reminds his readers that God is the God of all grace. We have grace abundant Every morning when we get up. There is that new portion of grace, just like the quail and manna in the Old Testament for the Israelites. It was God who called us to his eternal glory by Jesus Christ gave us his only son in order for us to experience that eternal glory someday. God has promised. God promised these readers that he will be with them through their physical suffering. That same promise is for us today. God does care and he is with us. And then, in the last phrase or in verse 11, to him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Speaker 1:I think Peter put this in here just to establish to his listeners that no matter what you're going through, no matter what circumstances you're in, just remember that God is in charge. God is in charge, god is in charge of all the earth and all glory belongs to God. So we've covered a lot over the last probably year, going through 1 Peter and as I studied 1 Peter, the thing I would like to leave with myself and with you this morning is that, no matter where God has us, no matter if he has us out amongst people that are hostile, no matter if he has us to where we might be quite comfortable right now, we are his chosen generation, we are his hands and feet, we are the people that he has appointed us as Christians to bring the gospel to those that don't know him, and no matter what comes our way, he is with us. He is with us. Be humble, let's keep watching and let's remain steadfast until the end. There is a hope and the glory of His Son will be revealed in due time.
Speaker 1:Let's pray Our Father God, this morning. As we come to you, I ask that you might grant the increase to what was shared this morning, and I pray that you might have us, as your people, doing what we are called to do, and that is to spread your word to those that don't know you. Lord, no matter what we're going through, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, I pray that we could cast everything on you and allow you to care for us. Lord, this morning, be with us as we part from here and help us to remember that we are your people called to a purpose of bringing others to you, for your glory and for your honor. Lord, I pray that you might go with us. I pray this on your name.