THE VIRTUE OF HUMILITY | 1 Peter 5:5-7

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter 5:5 "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". 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

OBJECTIVES:

1.     To understand the underlying principles of Biblical humility.

2.     To internalize and develop the virtues and values of the attitude of humility.

INTRODUCTION:

➢   In a secular, worldly perspective, "Conquest and Humility", are two opposing words which cannot go together.  For one, the worldly view of Conquest means using power, strength, violence, strategies and logistics to win the war against the enemies.  Another reason is, in order to Conquer, you have to subdue the enemy either by killing them and causing the rest to surrender.   In essence, one cannot conquer with an attitude of humility.  He must be fierce, arrogant and violent to conquer in a physical warfare.  But not so in Spiritual Conquest.  It is the stark opposite!

➢   In Spiritual Conquest, there are two subjects to conquer, one is the Spiritual Enemy and the other are the Victims of the Spiritual Enemies.  The problem here is that the Victims are so deceived and blinded that they are being used by the Spiritual Enemies to resist and fight against us!  They resist being rescued from darkness because of spiritual blindness.

➢   Ironically, the Victims in this warfare are the very people we love and care about.  They need to be rescued from spiritual blindness and deception.  They need to understand that we are not fighting against them, but rescuing them from the Spiritual Enemies.  We need to show no mercy for the Spiritual Enemies, but compassion for the Victims.  It is a difficult war indeed!  Difficult, but not impossible.  Common tell your neighbor, "Our warfare is difficult, but not impossible."   We need to be wise as serpents but gentle as doves (Matthew 10:16).

THE NEED FOR HUMILITY

➢   Humility means recognition of self in relation to God.  It demonstrates an attitude of lowliness, meekness and self-abasement. 

➢   In Spiritual Conquest, Jesus Christ had conquered the Spiritual Enemies at the Cross two thousand years ago by the redeeming power of His blood.  And He conquered them all by His humility.

➢   Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."   Humility then, is the most important attitude of a Kingdom Conqueror!

THE PRICE THAT PRIDE PAID

➢   Pride, being the opposite of Humility, is a very stubborn spirit deceiving even those who have already been rescued out of darkness.  It is very deceiving!  It had caused the fall of many, even great men and woman of God.  If we are not discerning and careful, we can be deceived to become "Victims" once again.  So be very discerning! Pride creeps in so subtly if you do not practice selflessness!

➢   Luke 9:23 "Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."  Jesus knew all along that pride can take a great toll even among His servants, so He gave us the antidote against pride - that is Self-denial.

➢   Pride is the first sin of God's creation, Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14).  It cost him his precious relationship with God, his exalted position in heaven, and he is destined to go into the Eternal flames of the Lake of Fire!

➢   Remember, don't let your ego play with emotion!  Don't let hurting damage you by entertaining an attitude of revenge.  Stop the spirit of pride before it stops you from your purpose!

➢   So let us now examine what the spirit of humility does to us if we yield to its bidding.

THE VIRTUES OF HUMILITY

1.       SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE.

➢   1Peter 5:5a "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility,

➢   Humility is characterized by an attitude of submission to God by obedience to His Word, including submission and obedience to God's delegated authority who implement God's divine plan.  Remember, people need to be led into fulfilling God's divine Commands (Matthew 28:20). 

➢   Humility causes us to be submissive and obedient.  Submission and Obedience are connected to perceiving the ultimate authority emanating from its very source, which is God (Romans 13:1-2).

➢   And don't forget, only by submitting to the delegated authority that God placed over your life can you effectively exercise the authority of God over evil spirits. 

➢   Hebrews 13:17 "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."

2.     HONOR AND RESPECT.

➢   1Peter 5:5b for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble". 

➢   Respect in a worldly perspective is earned, but it is, most importantly commanded by God for everyone to observe specially for the community of God's people.  Humility causes us to give honor and respect to whom honor and respect are due.

A.   Our parents.  (Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.")

B.    Our leaders.  (1Ti 5:17 "Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.")

C.    Other people. 

➢   If you give due honor and respect to others, in the same token, a humble man will gain honor.  (Proverbs 29:23. "A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.")

3.     TEACHABLENESS

➢   1Peter 5:6  "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time"

➢   There is much hope of transformation for a humble person because he is open for rebuke and correction.  They are not likely to resist change.  On the other hand, a proud person is not so. (Proverbs 18:12 "Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility."

➢    A person cannot serve others well without humility.  Humility is the gateway for greatness.