1 Peter 5
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1) In the life of a child of God, no duty is so necessary as to be clothed with humility.
For God resists the proud. Pride is the devil’s first sin. Haughtiness makes a person one with Satan.
Self-exaltation changed Lucifer from a magnificent angel into the devil. Through pride and haughtiness the first humans sided with Satan. God has declared that the one who exalts himself will be brought low, but he who humbles himself will be exalted. Satan is wicked and tempts God’s children but there is no one as dangerous to yourself as your own pride. Haughtiness also stops you from repenting and confessing your sin. Pride even infects nations, where one nation desires to exalt itself against another.
Heaven’s order is very different to earth’s – the least here on earth is the greatest in heaven and the greatest here on earth is the least in heaven. It will be a terrible awakening for many people.
A certain rich white lady had a dream that she entered heaven. She saw a black lady in a mansion larger than hers was on earth. When she was shown her accommodation it was a shack, like the black woman had on earth. She retorted that it must be a mistake as she was worthy of more. After this she awoke and her life turned around. She promised to the Lord that she would be the least from that day forward.
Pray to God to make you the least of all, so that even when you speak to others you won’t speak as someone who is the important one and exalt yourself.
In the text we read that the one who humbles himself will receive grace. We are saved by God’s grace and His grace alone. Those who receive grace receive the forgiveness of sin and the liberation from sin. No one receives grace without humbling themselves.
People don’t want to admit they’re sinners or they look for excuses for their sin. A truly humble person won’t look for excuses for their sin; that only heaps sin upon sin. The one who admits his sin without excuses receives grace.
2) Those who received grace have been freed from their cares.
Cast your cares upon Him – like a child who is care free.
People worry about what they will eat or drink or wear. The farmer worries about his crop and that the rain is too much or too little. Another person is troubled because there is no furniture in the house. Some even sell their bodies – prostitute themselves – to buy goods for their families. Such people are not humble enough to cast their cares upon God so that He can care for them.
But a child is care free, knowing they can leave everything over to their father and mother. So too, we can fully lean upon God for the cares of life because “He cares for us”. We should not lift ourselves up to God’s level as if everything is in our control.
3) The person who humbles himself receive victory from God over Satan.
We must be sober and vigilant because the devil roams about as a roaring lion seeking those to devour. If you humble yourself, God will give you victory over Satan, sin and even death.
There is no sin that cannot be conquered. Even Satan himself has no power to touch you, because he is restrained by God as you humble yourself under God’s hand.
This is the secret and key to revival.
This is also the answer to your cares and troubles. They vanish as you humble yourself. It also gives you victory over the devil and sin. If you’re still a slave of sin, it’s because you’re still something in your own eyes.
Where sin is powerful God’s grace is much more powerful. Even if you’re under a load of sin, you will receive grace as you humble yourself.
Is there still pride in you? Cry to God for help, else He will remain your enemy; but He shows grace to the humble.
When you humble yourself, He lifts you up by washing you snow-white in His precious Blood.