future grace and Pride

Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor

Grace Church, Sunday Worship

1 Peter 5:5b-7

July 17th, 2011 

 

 

Living by FAITH in FUTURE GRACE

Future grace – God’s promises to His people of His help

Faith: being satisfied with all that God is (and promises to be) for us in Jesus.

INTRO

  1. We were made to live upon God. (to be satisfied with him = faith in Him)

God made us: invented us as a man invents an engine. A car is made to run on petrol, and it would not run properly on anything else. Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn, or the food our spirits were designed to feed on... (C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity)

John 6:35 ESV  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 

  1. When we don’t, it is sin. (we seek our satisfaction elsewhere = unbelief)

Jeremiah 2:13 ESV  for my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water.

  1. One attitude that displays unbelief is anxiety. (we sought satisfaction in the wrong place and the engine is coughing out smoke)

Anxiety is what happens when we realize there is no water.

  1. Pride is a form of unbelief which seeks to live upon self rather than God.

Pride is hewing cisterns in self.

1 PETER 5:5b-7

1 Peter 5:5-7 ESV  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."  (6)  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,  (7)  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

I. Sins to Destroy (implied)

These three verses point us to godliness and therefore to put off sin. It want you to first see the sins that these verses call us to destroy:

Verse 5: Pride, self-exaltation and rivalry towards others

Verse 6: Rebellious pride in the face of God’s providence – angry and complaining

Verse 7: Anxiety and fear in the midst of burdens

II. Godliness to Embrace

Verse 5: Humble yourselves before others – serve others; in honor preferring others

Verse 6: Humbly submit yourselves under God’s hand – trusting and entrusting

Verse 7: Casting all burdens upon God

III. The Power to Overcome – Faith in His Promises

Verse 5: “He gives grace to the humble”

Sin promises: if you exalt your selves before others you will find a type of satisfaction. It will make you happier.

Lie – self-exaltation will doom you – God is opposed to the proud. (Prov 3:34)

But God blesses the humble! Trust Him.

Verse 6: “He will exalt you in due time”

Sin promises: I will groan and complain because I have the right and I deserve pity from God and others.

Lie – self exaltation before God will end badly

In due time he will bring honor.

Verse 7: “because He cares for you”

He has promised to care for you who do you think you are worrying.

Don’t dishonor Him.

Psalms 55:22 ESV  Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.