Good morning and welcome in. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture from 1 Peter but before we do that, I wanted to tell you a little story.
When I was a very young boy I grew up on a dirt road that got very muddy in the springtime. When we got home after school we would run into the house, put on our rubber boots, and run out to the garage to grab some hoes. We would make little rivers in the dirt so the mud would drain into the ditch. Sometimes we would throw a big boulder across the river and completely block off the flow of the water.
Before forgiveness can take place in a person’s heart, the rock of pride needs to be removed so forgiveness can flow.
I have always felt that God’s graces are like a giant lake that is being held back by a huge dam that can only be released by opening up the valve of your heart through your humility.
It’s like a huge gymnasium that is filled to the brim with God’s forgiveness, but the door is locked and the only way that you can access it is by turning the key of humility.
When we humble ourselves in God’s sight, He can lift us up.
Think of a barge entering into a canal lock, and the gates of God’s forgiveness begin to flow in all around our vessel. It slowly surrounds us as He fills us with water of mercy, and raises us up to the place that He intends us to be.
God wants all men to come to a place of repentance but the thing that can hinder that process from happening is a lack of humility, before God and others.
1 Peter 5:5-7 ….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.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
First of all, to be in subjection means to submit and to allow yourself to be controlled by someone who has authority over you. For example, a man is head over his wife in all things as Jesus is head over the entire church. Submitting to Christ and His Word shows meekness and humility and will eventually result in a lasting conversion in someone’s life.
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Women who profess to follow Jesus must submit and obey male leadership, for He was created first.
1 Timothy 2:11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
1 Peter 3:5-6 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.
Whoever your authority may be, you must learn to obey them. Children need to submit to a dad, a wife needs to submit to her husband, the husband is accountable to the Lord, and the Lord Jesus to the Heavenly Father. God is a God of order. Biblical submission is to obey those who are over you in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Submission shows that you have Godly fear and reverence.
Ephesians 5:21 – Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Hebrews 13:17 – Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Submitting to Christ and His teachings are the path to salvation.
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
The Philippians were very submissive and obedient.
Philippians 2:12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Humility is a quality that you want to wear each day of your life, like a shirt. Humility is the feeling or attitude that you have no special importance that makes you better than others. It’s a complete lack of pride:
Colossians 3:12 – Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
You will find great favor with God when you walk in meekness.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
1 Peter 3:3-4 – Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Meekness is a divine quality that Moses was filled with and he was considered the meekest of all men. Only a meek person will walk in submission, otherwise they only resist and rebel. Jesus is perfectly meek.
Matthew 11:29. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
When you are clothed with humility, it’s something that you wear in your personality each day. You can easily discern the difference between a humble person and an arrogant one. An arrogant person is somebody who refuses to listen to instruction like a child who rebels against their dad, or a wife who rebels against the husband. These are rebellion issues and shows a complete lack of respect and humility for those who God has placed in your path as your authority. God in heaven is watching and will not reward that behavior.
James 4:6 – But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Proverbs 3:34 – Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
God revives and lifts up the humble hearted.
Isaiah 57:15 – For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Listen to the warnings given to Capernaum who were filled with spiritual pride.
Matthew 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Before forgiveness we must steer our vessels slowly, steadily and humbly into the place where we will most certainly find forgiveness with our God and be lifted back up….
…The Canal lock
Let’s think about these things for right now and Lord willing we can talk some more tomorrow. Till then, bye-bye everybody.💟
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Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 