Under God’s Mighty Hand

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. Hoping I haven't missed much. Happy reading!)

Please turn with me to 1 Peter 5: 6-11: Let me read three verses now beginning from verse 6. And at the end of the message, I would like to finish off with the last three verses i.e., verses 9-11.

1 Peter 5:6-8

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Though we are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, we are not out of potential danger as long as we walk on the face of this earth. A real adversary is out there, prowling and seeking whom he may devour. Our adversary- the devil, is quite the schemer from times past; we must be aware of his schemes; we must be alert; and we must avoid the pit-falls he has laid out for us.

Sin entered this universe long before Adam sinned. Yes, the morning star-Lucifer was cast down from heaven, along with his cronies, when he rebelled against God. He was in the very presence of God, involved in adoration and worship of the Creator. Yet, he schemed there too! Pride became his ornament and his rebellion led to his downfall- and not his alone, we read in Rev. 12:4 that he swept away a third of the stars of heaven with his tail. And as the Devil went about seeking someone to devour, he found Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. He schemed and tempted them, and they too fell! Adam and Eve too, were found to rebel against God’s commands. And sin entered the human race.

As we hear the news around us of civil protests against government authorities, labor union protests against the management in manufacturing companies, and political party protests one against the other, we may tend to think that rebellion is not such a BIG issue. Yes, it happens even in homes- children against parents, spouses against each other; in offices, in industries, in villages and towns. But, the Holy Bible clearly warns us that rebellion-against God-appointed authority, is a serious issue.

As Adam fell to the cunning schemes of the Devil, a poison of rebellion has been injected into the blood-stream of the human race. Rebellion has found its way into the hearts of men. And it is a warning for all of us that we do not take it lightly-the sin of rebellion! I know, none of us will dabble in the occult or practice divination; nor will anyone bow before idols. But if you look at 1 Sam. 15:23, the Bible says: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.

Beloved, the truth is that the sin of rebellion is equated to witchcraft; and stubbornness (or insubordination) is equated to idolatry! Therefore, we must understand the gravity of what Peter is talking about- being under God’s mighty hand, in submission and in humility. For if we walk away from God’s protection, there is a scheming one, full of rage and set to devour.

Now it is our choice to humble ourselves; (we CANNOT ask or pray to God, to make us humble!). And it is also our choice to rebel. Therefore our safe and secure position is conditional-humbling ourselves under God's mighty hand.

Humble Under God

1 Peter 4:19 says: Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

There are times we go through sufferings. Peter is writing to the disciples of Jesus who were going through persecution. Maybe they would have been looking for some words from Peter that would propel them to DO something; but on the contrary, what Peter writes is: Submit and Suffer. Does that sound strange to you? But Peter understood God’s will in those situations.

Circumstances and people may be against us. It is for you to look up and see whether you are under God’s mighty hand. And in such situations, humble yourselves. God speaks to us; His word speaks comfort to our hearts. And He who knows the future, is already working HIS will on your behalf. Forgive those who have hurt you during those sufferings; and forgive people who owe you money. God’s mighty hand, His word for us and His will in our sufferings, are all things we must understand.

Humble Under Authority

1 Peter 2:13 says: Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors…

Now what do you say to those disciples suffering persecution under such an emperor as Nero? Peter’s instruction is clear: Submit yourselves… for the Lord’s sake. The whole realm of our lives should portray a walk of humility. It is easy, maybe, to submit to good governors and sensible authority. But imagine a cruel emperor as Nero… and the disciples being asked to submit to him! Are we not in a better position than they who suffered? The only time we will not submit to the governor or leader is, when God’s word clearly indicates the opposite!

The attitude of submission must be visible in our homes, in our churches and in our workplaces. For the Bible says in 1 Peter 2:18, that employees must be subject to their own employers, and not just the good ones. 1 Peter 3:1 calls for wives to submit to their own husbands; even to those who do not obey the word, because they can be won over by the conduct of the wives. Eph. 6:1 instructs children to be obedient to their parents. It is by this that we honor our father and mother; Jesus Himself being our example. And in the church, the young men ought to be subject to elders (1 Peter 5:5). In all these, if only we would look up, we can see God’s mighty hand over us, and we know we are secure. Therefore we must submit to all authority for the Lord's sake.

I have been through enough to know that many times it is easy to submit, and things go well for a long time. But then there comes a time, when there is a temptation to resist and rebel. It is in those times that we must remember the words of Peter: Humble ourselves – His mighty hand, His comforting rod and staff, even through pain and suffering, is real; as real or more than the enemy outside, waiting to devour.

Let me close with the verses from 1 Peter 5:9-11.

Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen and settle you.

To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, this time on earth is a probationary period-much like those you are familiar with as you join a new job. Our permanent place of calling is something much, much better- His eternal glory by Christ Jesus. And during this probationary period, we are asked to resist the devil, be steadfast in faith, and suffer for a while. God is working to perfect, establish, strengthen and settle us; To Him belongs all glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.