Choosing Under (Faith)

Choosing Under (Faith)

I Peter 5:6-11

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church

11-27-2022

Humility

I read recently about a man that was voted the most humble person in the church. They had a party for him and then gave him a medal.

The next week, he wore the medal to church and they took it away from him!

The theologian Ray Stevens wrote a song about humility in the 1970s that went like this:

“O Lord, it’s hard to be humble / when you’re perfect in every way / I can’t wait to look in the mirror / I get better looking each day / to know me is to love me / I must be one heck of a man / O Lord, it’s hard to be humble but I’m doing the best that I can.” ?

For the last three weeks, we have been considering what it means to “choose under” in relation to the government, to our spouses, and to our church leaders, the elders.

We’ve concentrated on the Greek word “hypotasso,” which means to be subject to or to rank under. It is a decision of the will to intentionally submit to others.

Ben Miller, in our preaching team meeting, pointed out that submitting is counter-cultural and counter-personal.

Let’s be honest. Submitting isn’t easy. Research shows that since the 1960s (Watergate and Vietnam), trust in authority figures has eroded significantly.

We have watched authorities misuse their power and abuse others in the process. We have seen pastors fall like the leaves in Fall for failing to live up to what they say they believe.

Submitting is scary because it makes us vulnerable to being hurt.

But there is something deeper. It also means we have to admit that we are not in control.

At the very center of our being, we want to be in charge, in control, and the center of the universe.

We want people to notice us, to think we are more than enough, to be important, beautiful, and popular.

This morning, we are going to dive deep into the last verses in I Peter to discover what it means to choose under when it comes to our faith.

Turn to I Peter 5:6.

Prayer.

Peter’s Journey

You might remember Peter - impulsive, haughty, hot-headed, and sticking his foot in his mouth a lot!

He was larger than life in the early church. Everyone had heard the story of Peter walking on the water. Peter saw firsthand Jesus “unzip” His humanity on the mountain of transfiguration. He saw Jesus perform amazing miracles - turning water into wine, and multiplying food, he was there in the courtyard when Jesus faced Pilate, and he witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

This letter was written by the Apostle Peter about thirty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus and, by then, Peter is obviously a very different person, a more kind, self-controlled, and humble man.

Peter wrote two letters to the scattered Christ-Followers just as persecution was starting to break out. His goal in writing to them was to encourage their hearts and strengthen their faith in the time of oppression that was to come. Soon Nero will kick the persecution into high gear and Peter will be murdered, crucified upside down at his request.

Peter’s theme is how to grow in your faith when the going gets tough.

White Apron

“All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (I Peter 5:5)

Peter commands his readers to clothe themselves in humility. This is a beautiful word picture of a person who wears a white apron signifying his status as a servant.

We should imitate Jesus in our humble service toward one another, like when He put on the towel and washed His disciple's feet.

Why? Because God opposes the proud. He stands against those who shine a light on themselves.

We see this in the story of the tower of Babel and the judgment on Nebuchadnezzar.

But He is for those who choose under, those who recognize that He is God and they are not.

So what should be our response? Let me read Peter’s words. By the way, if you are part of the Daily Audio Bible community, Brian read this passage yesterday!

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.