The Safe Place to Be

by Richard St.James

The Safe Place to Be

1 Peter 5:5 “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

1. Pride
2. Humility
3. Exaltation

1. Pride

Verse five: “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

The opposite of pride is humility. Is pride good? What does God hate? What is God’s opinion? God hates the proud man. The Bible tells us this in the book of Proverbs chapter sixteen, in verse five: “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.” [Proverbs 16:5]

Now, pride has its sisters and brothers. They are part of a family. Pride is associated with a “proud look”. A “proud look” is one of the seven things God hates. What are these seven things?

These seven things are the brothers and sisters to pride … according to Proverbs chapter six in verses sixteen thru nineteen: “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” [Proverbs 6:16-19] Pride is the ruin of man. Pride leads us to destruction.

2. Humility

The first part of verse six: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, …”

Humility is one of the attributes of Jesus Christ. If humility wasn’t one of the attributes of Jesus Christ, then the Son of God would never have gone to the Cross. If the Son of God [Who is God come in the flesh] did not go to the cross then we all would be still dead in our sins and on our way to the Devil’s Hell. I am not asking you to believe me. I am asking you to believe this BOOK [the A.V. 1611]. Look at what the Spirit of God says about this: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” [Philippians 2:8]

If the God of this BOOK “humbled” Himself to go to the Cross for us, then we should follow in suit. We should follow Him. Amen! We should humble ourselves in like manner. This is the way of the cross. When a man or woman is willing to die to self he or she will then have life. Is not this what the Spirit of God says in John twelve, twenty-four and twenty-five? “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” [John 12:24-25]

To have “life” … you must first die to self. Pride must go out … and then “humility” will come in. This is the way to “life”. This is the way to “riches, and honour, and life.” Proverbs twenty-two, verse four teaches us this. Listen to the BOOK: “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.” [Proverbs 22:4] The “fear of God” in the heart of a man, or a woman, will lead that man, or woman, to “humility”.

• “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” [Proverbs 15:33]

• “My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.” [Psalm 34:2]

• “Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” [Proverbs 16:19]

God’s order in the Bible is clearly shown. Are you ready? The younger person needs to submit to the elder person. This is health. This is right! The right way is the old way! Now, the old ways have virtually disappeared in America … to our sadness and hurt. There was once a time when the children respected their elders. They willingly subjected themselves because there was still a vestige of the fear of God in them. The “fear of God” is health in us. It produces … humility. To be clothed with humility … is to be dressed in the very best garment. Humility will promote us. Humble yourself. Humility will place you under “the mighty hand of God”. Under “the mighty hand of God” is the safest place for us to be in the eyes of God.

3. Exaltation

The last part of verse six: “that he may exalt you in due time:”

In Psalm thirty-seven, verse thirty-four, is located the promise to those who willing to “wait on the Lord” [or humble themselves] to receive the inheritance of THE LAND in the MILLENIUM. “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” [Psalm 37:34]

The best comes last … according to the word of God. So it is with this. When a man, or a woman, bends the “stubborn knee” in this Age of Grace, and receives Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, then he, or she, have humbled themselves “under the mighty hand of God” … to be exalted in due time. Now, please get the proper order down right. The order is shown in Matthew twenty-three, verse twelve: “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” [Matthew 23:12]

Humility needs to come to a person before he is ever promoted to exaltation. Why? “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.” [Psalm 75:6] Promotion comes from ALMIGHTY GOD. Are there any arguments to this? “But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.” [Psalm 75:7] There are no arguments. There are NONE! Amen!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God. Trust in HIM!

Then, finally, what should we be doing with our time here on this earth while we are waiting for God’s timing [the “due time” in verse six]? Listen to me. We should be “casting” our “care upon him” just as the Book says here in verse seven.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”

The Devil

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The First Epistle of Peter

1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

1 Peter 5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

1 Peter 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

1 Peter 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

1 Peter 5:14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

The Safe Place to Be