Cultivating Humility

Our text today in first Peter chapter 5 verse six. The text that are tagged in the year 2010 for potential sermon development of the time has come for that to take place. The text says therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. It is a command for God's people to cultivate humility.

Pride characterizes our condition from our physical birth. Humility reflects our condition following the new birth. Pride flows from our natural state of sons and daughters of Adam. Humility reflects the work of God's spirit to conform us to Jesus Christ. Apart from the new birth. Pride dominates and humility is elusive because of the new birth. Humility is possible, desirable, and to some degree inevitable made by God's grace that increase in that degree in our lives. Humility requires the work of the indwelling spirit of God and humility requires our cooperative response to that work of God's spirit within us. Humility is a very challenging area for our endeavor.

In today's text is designed to help us with the challenge. So I see four parts in our text today number one of the reason for cultivating humility. Number two. The requirement to cultivate humility. Number three.

The recognition of why we should cultivate humility in number for the reward for doing so. The reason the requirement, the recognition and the reward and the reason is bound up in that opening word. Therefore, therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and therefore always points us back to something that went before and when we come to the. Therefore, we are coming to a conclusion. We are coming to something that is built upon statements that have preceded that were therefore so what is the reason for this.

Therefore, in this particular tech. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and we might ask, wherefore should we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. Why should we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, and there are some reasons suggested in the context that lies before we should humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God because of the divinely established principle of authority. We read in verse five.

Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.

Now in verses one through four. We find some instructions to elders there.

The elders are our you viewed as the word elder is utilized to describe the pastors of the church. Those who are given responsibility for overseeing the flock shepherding the flock of God, taking the oversight thereof so elders as overseers and there are couple of cautions there responsibility is given a measure of authority is given but nevertheless we are told in this passage it elders are to be careful not to exercise that authority in the manner of lords over God's heritage spiritual authority in the church is not carried out in the prideful manner that authority is carried out in the world. This overbearing authority. This overbearing lording it over other second caution has to do with the mutual submission which will get to in a moment. But even as elders are overseers, and the implication is certainly clear that the members of the congregation should acknowledgment recognize their authority and submit to it.

According to godly guidelines. Similarly, we are told that's what where the implication becomes very obvious. Likewise, we read in verse five you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders word likewise indicates that there is a similarity here like church members should submit themselves to the divinely appointed authority of elders or pastors so younger people in the church in a similar fashion must submit themselves to their elders and hear the word elder is not used in the technical sense of the office of elder but is used as the older members of the congregation, in contrast with the younger people in every congregation. They are some who are younger and there are some who are older say where does that line get crossed what age moves you from younger to elder. The answer is, the Bible doesn't tell us, but we all know that it is true. Very simply, whoever is older than you are.

Is your elder that makes it real simple and so there's a responsibility here for younger people to submit to this divine order and to demonstrate submission to this very strange concept in America in the 21st century whole idea of submission to authority is very much resisted and challenged, and this old-fashioned idea of younger people showing humility and deference to the level of submission to their elders is also very strange idea in our day.

But that wasn't a strange idea in the days of our grandparents in those days everybody understood that younger people were deferential toward their elders. They respected them.

They stood up when elderly people came into the room. They treated them with respect, they submitted themselves at least to some level to those who were older than they were in all of this reinforces the fact that in God's ordering of society. There is divinely appointed authority.

There is a level of authority for the elders who are pastors in the congregation that should be recognized and submitted to. There is even a level of authority not the same. Not not the exact same authority but still nevertheless a recognizable level of authority that just applies to those who are older, who need to be respected and listed to buy the younger members of the congregation and that precedes the command to cultivate humility. In verse six and, furthermore, not only because of the divinely established principle of authority, but also because of the divinely established principle of mutual submission which the sun would seem to be a contradiction. How can you have on the one hand, levels of authority that some who are in positions of authority and others who are in authority under them. At the same time have a mutual submission where everyone submits themselves to one another. But that's exactly what were told here in verse five likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you including the elders, be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This attitude of humility needs to characterize all of our relationships with one another in the body of Christ to begin with and even beyond that unit throughout the world but we are to cultivate this this Christlike spirit of humility in all of our relationships. It's a divinely established principle of mutual submission.

All of you clothe yourself that word clothe means to tie on as with a knot or a blow to tie on a piece of clothing. Think of an apron tie an apron on think of the towel. The Jesus girded himself with in the upper room in John chapter 13, he girded himself. He tied that around his waist.

That's the picture here clothe yourself Tatyana's with a knot or a blow like a tolerant apron and that in itself indicates servitude, which is very much in view here and all are required to do this, including elders of both types, whether it be the pastoral elders, whether it be the elderly members of the congregation. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another that is maintain an attitude of submission to one another and if that seems to be a contradiction. Let me just simply point out that Peter is not the only one who taught this. Paul taught the same in Ephesians 521 he says submitting to one another all of you, submit yourselves to one another in the fear of God.

Verse 22 wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord, back to back to verses mutual submission. Verse 21 and then the recognition of divine order. Husbands and wives in verse 22. They don't cancel out each other.

The Bible is not contradictory. Remember my surprise probably 40 years ago now as I was sitting in a hospital room waiting room and picked up a magazine off the table, which was a Christian magazine and read an article on mutual submission based upon the text in Ephesians 521, which among other things said that this basically cancels out verse 22 where wives are told to submit to their husbands know it doesn't anymore than the mutual submission of first Peter chapter 5 cancels out the authority to God is given to pastors in the level of authority that God is given to the elderly in the church.

It's possible to maintain both you say will I don't see how that's possible will get the mind of the spirit get a spiritually minded attitude you will realize that they're not contradictory.

They actually work together very nicely. It's telling us that the exercise of authority in the church is not exercised with pride it's exercise with humility and therefore there is both at the same time.

Levels of authority which need to be recognized and submitted to by all and there's also a humility that makes everyone at toward everyone else in the humble way to each listing. The other better than himself, even if that person is in a position of authority that kind of attitude would solve all the problems that some marriages have where the husband exercises overbearing authority relationship to the wife that does happen, it happens often because that's a prideful sinful misuse of that authority. But when there is this humility, then the authority can be exercised in a Christlike way. Likewise, all areas of authority and so because the divinely established principle of mutual us submission. The prevailing attitude of humility authority exercised with humility.

That's part of the therefore therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, and the third reason for therefore is this quotation in verse five from Proverbs 334 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 334 quoted here in first Peter 55 and also quoted in James chapter 4 and verse six. What this tells us is that there is a divine opposition to proud people, and there is divine favor to humble people, but which do you want God's favor then cultivate humility.

What do you want God's opposition to you then remain in your stubborn pride because that will be the result. This, by the way, is a present tense God continually resists the proud, and God continually gives grace to the humble. Therefore, therefore humble yourselves. That's the reason why we are to humble ourselves, but next the requirement and what is it that this text requires of us will, of course, we've already seen it requires us to humble ourselves. It is a required activity humble yourselves for something for us to do the verb form is probably middle voice reflective reflexive. That's where the yourselves comes in reflexive verbs. One of the dads this myself or your self do it, and indicates a personal responsibility to cultivate humility and to suppress pride. It is a requirement that is given to us to do that humble yourselves, but there is also a necessary submission which may be indicated in the verb here, and if not, it certainly indicated in other ways, but in this is one of those interesting Greek forms where you can't tell the distinction between the middle voice in the passive voice sometimes are spelled the same sometimes is the difference, but sometimes there spelled the same and so you look at it and you say is that little humble yourselves or is that passing of the humble. Most commentators take it to be the first. The middle voice humble yourself, but it is clear that it's possible that it is saying, be humble now that that's a command. How do you obey a command for something that is placed upon you.

How can you obey the command to be humbled the humbling force that is brought to bear upon you from outside yourself well in this way, this is what it would mean if that's the proper understanding if that is the form that is to be understood, allow yourself to be humble. Don't resist it, except your humiliation, don't fight against it.

Submit to God ordained circumstances that humble you, the assumption is that such humbling activity by the hand of God is going on in your life pretty regularly. It's not something you're going to have to wait a long time before you see any examples of it or have any opportunities to submit yourself to it.

It's ongoing recognize it and here's how you are to respond to it. Don't find it. Don't resist it. Don't resent it but humble yourself under the mighty hand of God. Allow yourself to be humble either way whether this is middle voice or passive voice. It is speaking of a spiritually minded attitude on our part.

There is to be intentional humbling humble yourselves suppression of pride or be humbled. Submission to humbling circumstances. Intentionally consciously recognizing what you are doing because whether it is middle voice or passive voice. It's imperative in either case it's a requirement we must humble ourselves or we must submit ourselves to the circumstances God brings into our lives in order to humble us that is required. It is a command of Scripture. It is an imperative. Which brings us thirdly to the recognition were moving along quickly. What is the recognition that causes us to understand the importance of this humbling ourselves therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God under the mighty hand of God that is in recognition of God's majesty and in recognition of God's power under the mighty hand of God. It speaks of the mighty God, a majestic God.

God is majestic beyond our comprehension beyond our ability to comprehend.

He is exalted. Whether you exalted him or not he is exalted far in high above his creation, but because he is a mighty God who is highly exalted.

He is therefore to be exalted in our heart and our thinking and our minds. We recognize his greatness. We exalt him in our estimation, and because we understand how great and mighty he is. We humble ourselves before him, why because of who he isn't because of who we are is great and mighty.

Who are we in bike comparison. We are creatures. He is create toward we are weak he is strong. We are foolish she is.

Why we are sinful.

He is holy.

We are limited in our abilities and resources. He and his abilities and resources we are finite creatures.

He is an infinite creature and on and on and on we could go with all of these comparisons and therefore recognizing how mighty, how majestic he is and how small and insignificant by comparison.

We are, we should humble ourselves before him. It is in recognition of who he is and that is in recognition of we are, as I was working on this.

My mind went back to a song I had song or heard from any years, probably many decades. I think Greg Phillips is in here to check on this but I think our choir may have sung this in the early years.

In fact, it might've even been before Greg Phillips came to LDR. Our choir director but this song by Frank Garlock captures what I'm talking about at this point God is holy God is mighty and we praise his matchless name for he is worthy, let us worship and adore him, as we call upon his name.

God is holy God is mighty. Have any of you ever heard that before for pricing. If you if I could sing like sing it to you. It's a majestic him simple but captures so beautifully.

What were talking about here, God is holy God is mighty.

We praise his matchless name for he is worthy. Let us worship and adore him.

Let us bow down before him, as we call upon his name. God is holy God is mighty yes we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God in recognition of his Majesty and we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God in recognition of his power, we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, the mighty hand of God is a phrase, it is used. A number of times in the Old Testament, and as far as I could tell every time it has to do with the Egyptian plagues the display. The exercise, the manifestation of God's power in plague after plague after plague as he prepared his people to come out of their Egyptian bondage and prepared the Egyptians to let them go. Didn't happen all at once. I think that's very instructive here.

God could have. He could've just squashed the mood.

The Egyptians kill them all on the spot said go free. There's nobody to stop but instead he exercised his mighty hand by degree. I like turning a screw turn the screw. One time, is that enough now, I won't do it again. Is that enough now I will do it again, and so forth.

10 terms of the screw before the Egyptians finally said Lee leave God out. We will you stay in the longer it took 10 definite manifestations of God's mighty hand before the Egyptians were willing to let them go. Hypothetically, if they were willing to let them go with the 10th plague would God was God done was was his quiver empty.

Does he have no more arrows in his quiver or could he have pulled out number 11 Goody pulled out number 12 goody pulled out number 13.

What is the limit to his mighty hand. Obviously there is no limit. He has unlimited power.

So this reference to God's mighty power. Mighty hand is a reference to God's irresistible actions in human affairs is power at work.

God is holy God is mighty we just we didn't sing it but we referred to a song about it. God's mighty he is Almighty he is technical term theological term is omnipotent. My father is omnipotent and that you can't deny he is omnipotent. Therefore, it is futile to attempt to resist him. Why would you resist and omnipotent create toward eternal create tour without beginning and without end because it's futile to resist the Egyptians. Farrell resisted again and again and again and again but the Egyptians are going to submit because of God's mighty hand. God is omnipotent all right another turn of the screw another turn of the screw. How many do you need God has all power at his disposal, and therefore if you will not submit before his mighty hand humbly, you will be forced to submit in your sinful pride as she refused to let go of that sinful rebellion. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father.

Therefore, wisdom tells us to humble ourselves before. Why should you yourself before you number one in recognition of his Majesty. He is worthy number two in recognition of his power don't be stupid. God is worthy to be exalted to the highest degree that we are worthy to be humbled to the lowest degree and therefore to submit before the mighty hand of God is appropriate, it is necessary and as we are getting ready to see more clearly.

It is beneficial. There is a reward, but please note before we move on to the reward that humility toward others depends upon humility toward God. First, we are told to submit ourselves to one another man word people word horizontally, but then we are told. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God in vertical direction and it really takes that vertical understanding that that vertical perspective that vertical humbling under the mighty hand of God to enable us to have the humility right attitude. The spirit to humble ourselves and our relationships with other people, but now we come number four to the reward.

There is a reward for those who do this therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time. There is a promised exaltation with an indeterminate time, but an appropriate consideration. There is a promised exhortation. It is a divine promise that he may exalt you in due time.

Jesus said much the same in Luke 14 verse 11 for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

It is a divine promise. He who humbles himself will be exalted.

Furthermore, we should understand that this exaltation is a divine exaltation. That's better than any human exaltation is all kinds of ways to be exalted in this world to receive honor and and the recognition and authority and wealth in all of the different things that we look at as various types of exaltation, but I want to promise you, dear friend, the greatest exaltation upon earth is nothing compared to the exaltation that is that is promised by Almighty God. He is able to exalt us so far above any earthly exaltation that will look at all of the rewards of earth and say that's trinket stats that's cracker jacks prizes delay still have those. I don't even know I've no box of cracker jacks for years anybody at a box of cracker jacks to this 11 plastic toys in their duly Marty says they do big deal you got that little plastic toy that might mean something to a small child but if you have any maturity at all. You look at that is the that is almost worthless.

Though I suppose if you save it for 30 or 40 years of my become a collectors item and then it might be worth something you can sell it on Antiques Roadshow or something. Who knows.

I wish I had some the things I'd had when I was a boy, which I'd save them.

They were the fortune now I Stella a pretty decent collection of baseball cards and I concentrated on the New York Yankees. I had Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Bobby Richardson, Roger Mirus, I had cards for all those people and when we moved I had to get my what my mother said you gotta get rid of stuff to get rid of stuff get rid of stuff and I threw them away thinking that that didn't take up that much room. I didn't have enough foresight to save those but they seem fairly worthless at the time I enjoyed collecting them and showing them to other boys and comparing cards with the other boys but I outgrew that I threw them away.

That's just so many trinkets, but I promise you that the reward that God gives the exaltation that God gives is going to be so great that the greatest reward upon earth is going to seem like a crackerjack spry, big deal with this promised exaltation is a conditional exaltation therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that in order that he may exalt you in due time. You don't get the exaltation without the humbling the humbling comes first. This is taught consistently throughout the Scriptures for the people of God there is great reward. There is there is there is promised the lights beyond comprehension. But they will only come after our suffering a while after our humiliation for a while after our being brought low for a while. Then, after suffering is reward. First, the cross, then the crown and that's the pattern. All throughout Scripture. So therefore humble yourself before the mighty hand of God in order that you may be exalted in due time. It could even be understood in this way. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God to the degree that you do that, he will exalt you in due time. In other words, minimal, humbling, minimal exaltation, greater humbling greater exaltation extreme humbling extreme exaltation. We do know that there will be different levels of exaltation and eternity will be some over 10 cities and some over five cities and some of her one city so those who humble themselves the most are going to be exalted. The most therefore humble yourself under the mighty hand of God in order that he may exalt you in due time due season.

The proper time. Humiliation does not last forever. Exaltation is coming, and the question is when will it come wealthy answer is in due time. You say, what is that there is some discussion among the commentators as to whether this verse is talking about in this life or the life to come. There can actually be a pretty good argument made for both of these. In fact, actually the life to come. Nobody argues against that was indisputable. There is exaltation grade exaltation coming in the life to come. When Jesus returns is going to be a great rewards for his people, but is there any sense in which this reward will come in this life and there are some indications of that may in fact be so word that is used Cairo in time can be understood of this doesn't have to be understood this way, but it can be understood as meaning in time, as opposed to an eternity he shall exalt you in due time, but others say no that just means after the passing of time. It doesn't really indicate that it takes place within time as opposed to eternity. However, that's not the only text that deals with this. Remember when Jesus dealt with the rich young ruler made it clear that his riches in this life did not indicate his godliness. In fact, his unwillingness to give up his riches in his life was an indication of his on surrendered part of his lost condition and Peter said well see we've left everything and followed you. What we get. Remember that is ready reward for our being willing to humble ourselves in this way, to give up our fishing business to give up our times of enjoyment with our family and so forth are to sacrifice all of that to follow you and Jesus answered and said assuredly, I say to you, there's no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the Gospels shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. Is it now or then both. According to Jesus, say one's mind coming in due time. I'm tired of waiting. That's the un-submissive spirit submit yourself, submit yourself under the mighty hand of God wait patiently for his time. Don't be impatient.

That's pride at work.

Patience is humility at work all trust God to reward me at the time and in the ways that he deems best.

Doing so waiting for the properly ordered time tests our faith in a test or submission, but this is an appropriate consideration.

Our primary motive for doing what were commanded to do is out of love, gratitude, obedience to glorify Christ, but it is not inappropriate when the Scripture mentions it to bring in this secondary motive, mainly the promised reward and Peter by the spirit of God is telling us that if we will defer self exaltation. Now we don't work at exalting ourselves we don't manipulate maneuver and try to climb the ladder to exalt ourselves. That kind of activity upon earth is exceedingly detrimental to our spiritual state.

But if we patiently await divine exaltation will find that to be gloriously beneficial at the appropriate time in due season. So what should we take away from this, let's talk first of all about proper understanding of pride in a proper understanding of humility. Pride is our natural state were born with it.

Pride is self-centered pride is self-sufficient. Pride wants to be in control and is all discombobulated.

If it feels like it's not in control and God. In the case of his children will will pry our fingers off the controls of our life until we realize we can't control it. We can't control the circumstances, we can't control these things, the sooner we recognize it and say I can't.

I submit to you sooner we can not have our fingers painfully pride off of these things. But if we won't do it if we won't yield control in our sinful pride, then God has a way of making us aware that we are not in control. He is pride wants to be in control. Pride has an attitude of superiority toward others. Pride often sees itself as a standard by which others are measured.

Pride. Trust himself not in God. Pride seeks self glory not God's glory. One expression of pride is in this poem in Victor's arm and reading this when I was in school and it stayed with me almost more forcefully than anything I ever remember reading in in high school.

The short poem in Victor's by William Ernest Henley, American born in 1849 Jack died in 1903 pieces out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul in the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud under the bludgeoning's of chance my head is bloodied but unbowed. Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade, and yet the menace of the years finds, and shall find me unafraid. It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate I am the captain of my soul, and on July 11, 1903 William Ernest Henley found out that is not so.

That's pride. What about humility.

Humility is not a natural state. It's a spiritual state.

It literally has the idea of low mindedness. In other words, make yourselves low, not high low. There's an element in regard to people as we seen another element in regard to God, let's take humility in regard to people.

What does that mean in practical terms it means as much is anything a willingness to serve others is the opposite of self exaltation to take the servants place the lowly place to put others first.

Paul put it this way. Philippians 2, three and four let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others and that introduces this great section let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God made himself of no reputation took upon him the form of a servant was made in the likeness of men being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross so hundred regard to people.

It means putting others first. It means not exalting self means a willingness to serve others in regard to God.

What does it mean it means surrendering to God's sovereign rule.

Some people don't even accept the biblical doctrine of God's sovereignty. There are far afield. Others accepted mentally, but in their daily lives.

They struggle with surrendering to it, acknowledging it in a practical sense, since God is sovereign, I yield to him. The decisions of my life and the circumstances, but it surrenders to God's sovereign rule. It's patient of the face of trials of deep, vivacious, and accepts difficult circumstances as God's wise design for my good. God has brought this into my life for reason, no doubt, to deliver me from pride from sin from selfish, therefore I don't ask why did this happen to me or what did I do to deserve this rather Lord God what you doing in my life. What you pruning out of my life. What are you teaching me. Please show me humility in regard to God is being completely dependent upon him for seven goes on. It's all part of the same sentence, therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time casting all your care upon him for he cares for you, give him control of your life. Trust him for all the circumstances of your life. Lay these concerns before his throne and leave them there that surrendering to the sovereignty of God.

So in conclusion, how do we cultivate humility.

That's the whole theme of this message cultivating humility.

How do we do it to simple steps number one search your heart for manifestations of pride if you will, God will show them to you. And when he does acknowledge them confess them and ask God to help you subdue them and number two very practical look for ways to serve others at home that work, the church, we don't have many opportunities for service now under covert as we normally do many of you are involved in so many things that have been shut down right be patient. That's got sovereign purpose. For now, but the days coming when were going to need workers in the nursery again.

I hope many of you will say I value the opportunity to serve as a is a humble servant. I I tie on the apron of service and I serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this way, and in teaching children's classes and in teaching and preaching God's word and the rest homes and on and on and on it goes. I'm eager to get back to these areas of service, but there plenty of areas around you at all and that work and at school. Look for them. And as you engage yourself in these things you are cultivating God honoring humility, shall we pray Lord help us. We are proud that we don't want to be your spirit is changed our desires. We want to be like Jesus. Help us to have his mind is humility is servant's attitude. We ask in his name