Faith in the Crosshairs 1 Peter (Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14) (Prowling, 1 Peter 5:6-14)

Review Shepherds and Sheep: God cares about the motives and the attitudes as much as the actions

Review How to submit wellHow to submit well How to suffer wellHow to suffer well How to lead/be lead wellHow to lead/be lead well In all of these, Christ desires to sanctify us

1 Peter

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.

She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" A call to humility for people who are suffering? Why?

Suffering can produce pride, self- centeredness and entitlement

− Why me? It's not fair! I'm a good person. He isn't suffering and he's not even a very good Christian − She's doesn't even love Jesus and she's happy − A loving God wouldn't allow me to go through this. I don't need God- it's his fault I'm hurting right now!

Root Causes: − Comparison

Root Causes: − Comparison − Unrealistic Expectations

Root Causes: − Comparison − Unrealistic Expectations − Unwillingness to take responsibility

Root Causes: − Comparison − Unrealistic Expectations − Unwillingness to take responsibility − Self-deception

Produces: − Entitlement − Self-centeredness − Unrighteous anger and bitterness − A string of broken relationships and shattered hearts

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" Clothe- egkombousthai- 1- garment of servitude tied in a knot/a servant's apron − Jesus' garment while washing the disciples' feet

Clothe- egkombousthai- 2- Putting on of a long garment as a sign of honor and pre-eminence − What serving is for a real believer Serving others as Jesus did and considering it an honor to do so

"In suffering, don't become self- absorbed. But be like Jesus towards one another by serving with humility as your badge of honor"

"Yeah, but while I’m suffering, I need to be taken care of- not to serve someone else"

BToL: Healing never comes from seeking attention and demanding resources. Healing comes from serving others according to their needs

Why?

Why? Gets me outside myself and allows God's power to work in me as he works through me

My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self- criticism- 1 John 3:18-19 (Message)

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" Pride and entitlement sever my connection to the source of my strength and healing

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Mighty hand= deliverance

…with a strong hand the LORD has brought you out of Egypt- Exodus 13:9 …your people…whom you have redeemed through your greatness, whom you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand- Deut. 9:26

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you If God's people are humble and trusting, he will deliver them out of or through suffering- and bring vindication

…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you Casting- throw with force Anxieties- draw in different directions, divide, distract

When pride, self-centeredness and entitlement are present, I take on all the trouble myself and look to others for my salvation − Causes anxiety which distracts me from real life and pulls me in different directions so that I can't really live

When humility rules, I trust God and throw my anxieties on him so that I can rest in his strong care for me

Buffet with the bears

(You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies= enemies are still there. But so is the buffet- and my cup runs over)

Be clothed with humble service towards others even while suffering Humbly trust God's deliverance and throw your anxieties on him

Trials are times of exponential growth or spectacular failure God says, "Come to me and trust"God says, "Come to me and trust" Satan says, "Get even. Get angry. Get full of yourself. Get whatever you want- you're entitled"Satan says, "Get even. Get angry. Get full of yourself. Get whatever you want- you're entitled"

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour

We have an enemy − Hates God − We are made in God's image − Wants to destroy that image 40% of Christians…

We have an enemy − Hates God − We are made in God's image − Wants to destroy that image How? In context… − Pride and self-centeredness − Root of bitterness that defiles many (Hebrews 12:15)

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world To resist the enemy is to also resist societal attitudes and internal impulses

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world Resist by trusting God fully and by knowing that we are not alone in our suffering Why is it important to know that?

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

…will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you Nothing escapes God's notice- it will all be made right one day Consolation of Israel

…will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you RestoreRestore ConfirmConfirm StrengthenStrengthen EstablishEstablish

Restore- set a fracture/mend nets/ supply what is missing Repair the weakness of a man's character

"She will be really great when something happens to break her heart"- Sir Edward Elgar The soft eyes of a mother who lost her son Suffering is used by God to "add the grace notes to life"- Barclay

God…comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God- 2 Cor. 1:4

Confirm- to make as solid as granite, toughened like steel tempered in the fire

Strengthen- fill with strength. A tested muscle is a strong muscle, able to handle life ahead in faith

Establish- lay the foundations so that faith cannot be shaken

Suffering that is met in faith, with humility and with a willingness to serve produces solid character with the strength to do what's right and a faith that can never be shaken

2 Things: − Not guaranteed − Can only be had by suffering

Greet one another with the kiss of love Peace and benevolence towards

Greet one another with the kiss of love Peace and benevolence towards "What prayer is complete from which the holy kiss is divorced? What kind of sacrifice is that from which men depart without the peace?"- Tertullian