Young People's Group

GOD GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE

March 30, 2014

The Devil Walking About Like A Roaring Lion

We need the Lord and His grace far more than many of us would realize. The apostle Peter understood this spiritual need as he recognized how the Christian world is at war against a most vicious and ferocious enemy. This great enemy and his hordes would do anything and everything within their means to destroy us.

“Because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” 
1 Peter 5:8

The devil is pictured as a roaring lion who is hungry and upset. He is walking around seeking out people whom he would devour and destroy. One of the ways is through using the sin of pride against us. If there is one sin that God detests, it is the sin of arrogance. It was this sin of pride that Satan used to move King David to count his armies (1 Chronicles 21:1-2). This brought about the destruction of 70,000 men. Young people, let’s be on guard against the ways of the evil one. He will do all he can to destroy our lives.

Finding Grace From God Through Humbling Ourselves Before Him

“‘God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.’
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.” 
1 Peter 5:5-7

Peter was challenging the younger people to not just submit to the shepherds of the Church but to learn to submit to each other as well (1 Peter 5:9). They were meant to be clothed with humility because the Lord would grant grace to those who were. The word “gives” is in the present tense. God would constantly and continually give grace as long as we are humble before Him. Being young, it is easy for us to be full of ourselves, to be proud and dependent on our own strength and wisdom. The challenge is to humble ourselves before God’s great hand and He would lift us up and honour us in due time according to His grace. Humility would teach us to let go of our worries and cares and to cast them upon the Lord for He cares for us.

Grace To Stand Against The Evil One

“Be sober, be vigilant … Resist him, steadfast in the faith” 
1 Peter 5:8, 9

As we humble ourselves before God’s mighty hand in life, there are four things that the Lord’s grace would enable us to do.

1. Be Sober

We are to exercise self-control in all that we do.

2. Be Watchful

Constantly, we must be watchful and be on the look-out against the evil one.

3. Be Resistant

When we are humble before Him, we will be able to commit ourselves to God and to stand against him. We are able to defend ourselves against the wiles of the evil one.

4. Be Steadfast In The Faith

Our challenge is also to be strong in our faith and nothing would be able to move us. Young people, let’s seek to guard ourselves against the work of the evil one. Let’s always be steadfast in our faith.

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