Humble Yourselves, Therefore, Under God's Mighty Hand, That He May Lift You Up In Due Time
We Are All Sinners In Need Of A Saviour
1 PETER 5:5-6
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
”I Peter 5:5-6 NKJV
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People are often concerned for their position and status, craving for recognition for what they do. It’s like we are all competing against one another because most want to be number one.
But the truth is, in Christ we are all individual parts of one body and must take our position accordingly.
Each part is as equally important as another and are subject to Christ who is the head (EPHESIANS 4:11-16).
Paul said of the body, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”
I Corinthians 12:12-31 NKJV
Peter reminds us that human recognition, whilst when received, can be encouraging, but counts for nothing; the truth is, it is vanity, for it is what God thinks that counts.
Peter advises us that God’s recognition counts far more than any human praise, and He is not only able, but faithful to bless each and every one of us accordingly in His perfect timing. Furthermore, in either this life or the next, He Himself will honour those believers who have a humble heart.
The truth is, without God, we are nothing more than failed sinners awaiting our punishment. Yet as believers, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (PHILIPPIANS 4:13).
Surely it is He who deserves the praise and glory.
My brethren, their is no place in God’s kingdom for selfish ambitions or pride; that was both the devil’s and Adam and Eve’s downfall (see ISAIAH 14:12-21; GENESIS 3:1-14) and is an abomination to the Lord (PROVERBS 16:5-7).
Their will be believers in our lives that we may not get on with so well; the devil may well of placed them in our lives, or we may simply have different opinions and ideas. But even so, we must love them and esteem them higher than ourselves (PHILIPPIANS 2:3-5).
To love others is not necessarily to make them your best friend, but rather to care about them as you care for yourself.
Love is a weapon of mass destruction against the enemy, and all the Laws and prophets stand on the law of love (MATHEW 22:37-40).
The devil may send people into your lives or ministry to bring division and discontent, but when the love of Jesus is applied, those people often turn to God in repentance. But even if they don’t, they just like us, must have their opportunity of life everlasting.
They may challenge and test us, but we must continue to love and forgive them all, knowing that those challenges are an opportunity of joy.
James put it like this. “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4 NKJV
Some shall come and some shall move on according to God’s will, not ours. Some will submit to God others not, but that’s a part of the process.
The church is Jesus body of people, and He alone decides who is a part of it and who isn’t.
At the same time, just as we must accept all people the Lord brings, we must also be ready to let others go according to God’s will.
We my beloved, are called to except all those who Christ brings into the ministry, and to love the sinners, but hate their sin, after all, we are all sinners in need of a Saviour.
The devil has many evil schemes at hand to cause hurts and divisions; he is set on causing as much pain as he possibly can, turning us against one another with whispers of hate.
He, like the fake news media, feeds our emotion to cause us to believe his lies, and he’s good at it, drawing us into all kinds of sin, including gossip and hateful speech, to turn each member of the body against one another.
Divided we are weak, but in unity we are strong.
Jesus said, ““Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. “Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.””
Matthew 18:18-20 NKJV
The devil is very aware of what the Scriptures say and the power we believers have in our hands. For the same power that raised Christ from the dead is in every Spirit filled believer of Jesus Christ. When we agree in unity, Jesus agrees too.
“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. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
I Peter 5:6-11 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
