Fight the Good Fight

#19 Christian Maturity 7.4.21

1 Peter 5:5-10 NASB

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. 6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you. 8Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

Introduction

1. All of 1 Peter is a handbook for survival in tough times - in the last of the Last Days.

2. Look back at 1 Peter 4:7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

3. “End of all things: Not cessation of existence. But the end of this present age. A new heaven and new earth is just over the horizon.

4. Telios - “Complete, not perfect. We should understand that we are only young for a while, but we can be immature for a long, long time.

5. Peter gives us five behavioral goals as we learn to hang tough when the going gets rough.

I. A Spirit of Submissiveness

vv. 5, 6 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.

A. BTW - “Spirit” can mean a non-physical entity, but it is a word also used to describe the attitude of a person.

B. Submissiveness is not a form of slavery. Submission is one who is equal voluntarily placing himself under another equal for the glory of God and the functionality of His Kingdom.

C. Submissiveness is for all Christians and all ages.

D. 1 Peter 2:13-16 NASB Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, 14 or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. 15 For such is the will of God, that by doing right you silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Act as free people, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bond-servants of God.

E. 1 Peter 2:18 NASB Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are harsh.

F. 1 Peter 3:1-4 NASB In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won over without a word by the behavior of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure and respectful behavior. 3 Your adornment must not be merely the external—braiding the hair, wearing gold jewelry, or putting on apparel; 4 but it should be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

G. 1 Peter 5:1-5 NASB Therefore, I urge elders among you, as your fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and one who is also a [fellow partaker of the glory that is to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not with greed but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as domineering over those assigned to your care, but by proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.

H. The great word of our time is “rebellion.”

I. “Lawlessness” is the watch-word of the End Times.

J. A special word to our youngest disciples: “If you only teach a man his rights, you’ll have a rebellion. If you also teach him his responsibility, you’ll have a revival.” Bill Gothard

K. You will never have authority over things of difficulty until you learn to function submissively in difficulty.

II. A Spirit of Servanthood

vv. 5, 6 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time.

A. “Clothed with humility” - literally means to tie on an apron.

B. Jesus modeled this very action for us by putting on the apron of a servant.

C. I am sometimes a slow learner, but I have become convinced of two essential, irreducible and non-negotiable principles:

1. I have learned that mature people are the ones who serve.

2. I have learned that humility is the currency of the Kingdom.

D. If I want to experience more grace, then I must walk in humility. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

E. Without humility, not only does God Not give you grace, but He will actually STAND IN YOUR WAY.

III. A Spirit of Steadiness

v. 7 having cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares about you.

A. We all have moments of difficulty.

B. “Its not right for the upright to be so uptight.” Adrian Rogers

C. Put your anxieties upon the Lord.

D. “Cast” is a definite, deliberate act.

IV. A Spirit of Sobriety

vv. 8, 9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world.

A. There is a difference between being carefree and being careless.

B. Three hints from a man who learned the lessons of presumption.

1. Recognize him - (He is YOUR adversary)

2. Respect him - (Be sober and vigilant - this doesn’t imply the giving of honor.)

3. Resist him (resist steadfast in the faith).

V. A Spirit of Steadfastness

vv. 9, 10 So resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brothers and sisters who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

A. The role of suffering

B. Suffering, rightly responded to, will strengthen us as few things can.

So, let’s review.

1. An attitude of Submissiveness (vv.5-6)

2. An attitude of Servanthood (vv.5-6)

3. An attitude of Steadiness (v.7)

4. An attitude of Sobriety (vv.8-9)

5. An attitude of Steadfastness (vv.9-10)