[0:00] The first letter of Peter, chapter 5, and we'll begin reading at verse 5, and reading verses 5 to 10.
[0:16] Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another. For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
[0:28] 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.
[0:40] 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.
[0:58] Throughout the world. Now, last time, we looked at the beginning of the chapter here, which specifically refers to the eldership of the church, and the way in which elders are to act as the spiritual shepherds of the church, and then the promise given to them in verse 4, when the chief shepherd, who is Jesus, shall himself appear, they will receive the unfading crown of glory.
[1:27] So there's a specific emphasis there on the importance of the eldership, and the importance of them carrying out their role as shepherds of the flock, of the congregations where the Lord has set them as shepherds, as spiritual shepherds.
[1:45] But we did mention last time as well how it's not simply the importance of looking at the leadership of the church, but how the whole fellowship, how the whole body of people that form the congregation or the church, as they relate to the eldership, actually to see their own contribution as important, as they not only relate to the eldership as those who are shepherded to those who shepherd, but also here how we are to see it as he expands on this from verse 5 onwards.
[2:24] You who are younger be subject to the elders, and then he expands on that, clothe yourselves, all of you, which would include the elders as well, with humility towards one another.
[2:36] For God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. In other words, he's really saying that the whole fellowship of people, both those who are leading the church and those who are led, are to see it as their duty, as their privilege indeed, to be in submission one to another, and to act in humility one to another, and to humble themselves together under the mighty hand of God.
[3:04] And in many ways that's the key to a healthy congregation. We know that everything comes from God. We know that we need to depend upon the grace of God, upon the Spirit of God.
[3:17] But humility, as we'll see tonight, something of its definition, humility and humility towards one another, as he says in verse 5, is very much the key or a key topic or a key activity, a key exercise in what it is to have a healthy congregation with healthy relationships.
[3:39] Because when you have that mutual submission and mutual humility towards one another, then you have that basis on which every congregation that has that is really in a good position in relation to God and to one another and to the world around them.
[4:02] So there are two things we're really going to look at from these verses 5 to 10. And we'll look at them as something of an imperative in each case. First of all, he's saying, Be humble, look after each other.
[4:16] Be humble, and especially be humble in a way that looks after each other. And then from verse 8, Be watchful.
[4:28] Look out for your adversary. Look out for the devil. Be watchful because your adversary is prowling around, seeking to devour you, seeking people to devour.
[4:43] So these are the two points we're going to focus on this evening as we come towards ending our studies. First, Peter probably, maybe one more study should round it off for us, I think.
[4:55] Be humble, look after each other. Notice what he's saying here. Clothe yourselves. In verse 5, Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another.
[5:10] And then he gives a quotation from Psalm 55, For God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Now that's an interesting reference, isn't it? Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another.
[5:24] And he's emphatic that it has to be all of you. Clothe yourselves, all of you. He's not just saying, Clothe yourselves under the leadership of the church, or to the leadership of the church.
[5:34] You clothe yourselves with humility. All of you, as a body of people, he's saying, as Christians together, all of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another.
[5:47] And why is that an interesting reference, an interesting way of putting it? Well, it is, for a start, a very interesting imagery. He's talking about a spiritual putting on of garments. And this is one of the things you find, of course, in Paul's writings as well, when you go back to the likes of Colossians.
[6:04] And chapter 3, he speaks there, you recall, of the same kind of language, the same kind of imagery, of putting off clothes, and putting on clothes. He says, Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self, with its practices, and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge.
[6:24] That's what's already happened, he says. You've now got a changed lifestyle, through coming to be saved, and knowing Christ. And then he says, verse 12, Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, and so on.
[6:46] He's really saying, as you do with clothes, as you put on your clothes, every morning, as you divest yourself, of your night clothes, he's saying, as Christians, you've already done that, your old self has been laid down, you've put on the new self, you've put on Christ.
[7:03] But he says, in terms of your behavior, from that, you are to put on, all of these spiritual qualities, or these spiritual garments. And Peter is using the same language, really exactly, except he's really narrowing, the focus to humility.
[7:19] Clothe yourselves, with humility, towards one another. But it's not just, the imagery that he's using, that's interesting, and very instructive.
[7:30] It's also, something you recall, that Peter would have been, well used to, from his experience of Jesus. Go back in your mind, to John 13, to that upper room, where the disciples are gathered, where Jesus, is about to do something remarkable, in their presence, and to them.
[7:54] Where he's going to wash their feet, as something of, an emblem, or an image, or a parable, if you like, in action, of his own humility.
[8:05] But you see, before he did that, he did something else. He put off, his outer garments, and he put on, the towel. And in those days, when people were, walking from place to place, and their feet would get dusty, even on a short walk, it was the practice, of slaves, and households, to take a towel, to put the towel, around themselves, and then wash the feet, of those who had come, as guests to that house, and actually, wash their feet, as slaves.
[8:38] They were, given that task. So, Peter really saw something, absolutely remarkable. He didn't realize it, fully at the time, of course, but he would have known it, by the time he wrote, this first letter, because what Peter, was actually seeing, was God, putting off, his outer garments, and putting on, the garments, of a slave.
[9:04] What he saw, was Jesus Christ, the Son of God, doing something, that indicated, what he had actually done, in a spiritual way, what he had done, in coming into this world, in the form of a servant, as Paul wrote, in Philippians 2, what Jesus had done, was divest himself, if you like, of these outer garments, of glory, that belonged to him, as God, he didn't stop being God, but he came, into this world, and was revealed, in this world, and acted in this world, and ministered in this world, as a servant, and it's that, that he indicated, to the disciples, really was the crux, of his ministry, I am among you, as one who is a servant, one who serves, Peter of course, didn't, at that stage, understand fully, what was happening, but he knows it now, and he remembered that, and as he remembered that, he says, to these people, that he's writing to you, clothe yourselves, with humility, towards one another, do as Jesus did, he set, the pattern, of what it is, to have a healthy, spiritual relationship, with fellow Christians, and as Jesus, set the pattern, for what it is, to serve God, as Jesus, set the pattern, of what humility is, in the form of a servant, because you cannot have, a definition of humility, humility, unless you actually have, at the very heart of it, a willing service, for God, humility, is not just, acting apart, it's a state of heart, state of mind, that shows itself, that expresses itself, in outward actions, that's what Jesus did, that's what Peter remembered,
[10:56] Jesus doing, his setting off, his setting, apart, taking off, his outer garments, literally, the clothes, that he was wearing, and putting on the towel, was a picture, of what he had done, as the son of God, coming into the form, of a servant, now Peter is saying, clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility, humility, humility, is not, comparing yourself, with other people, and then reaching, a conclusion, as to whether, you are humble or not, you don't measure yourself, by other people, when you think about, these qualities, the Bible speaks about, humility, and these other qualities, that we are to put on, you begin thinking, about humility, at the feet, of Jesus Christ, as a servant, and you begin, thinking about humility, when you realize, what he did, in order to become, a ministering servant, in order to procure, our salvation, what Peter is saying, is to actually, bring your salvation, to make your salvation, sure and certain, for you, the son of God, became a servant, deity, came to take the form, of a servant, or a slave, and he put on, the garments, of servanthood, in a spiritual way, well he is saying, that's really, what it is, to be humble, to clothe yourselves, with humility, it's not comparing, ourselves with one another, it's beginning, with Jesus, and saying, well that's what,
[12:36] Jesus did for me, that's grace, in action, that's what it means, that God actually, came to reveal, his grace, in Christ, it's a grace, which stoops down, it's a grace, which comes, to actually be, at the feet, of his disciples, to wash their feet, it's the grace, of servanthood, and that's, what brings us, really to begin, to think properly, of what humility, is for us, when you begin, with the humility, of Jesus, you then begin, to understand, what humility, really is, because you say, to God, Lord, how can I be, anything other, than a humble servant, when you became, a humble servant, for me, that's the logic, that's the thrust, of Peter's emphasis, clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility, and notice he's saying, with humility, towards one another, it's not just, all of you, with humility, some of the time, or with humility, to certain people, all of you, towards one another, he's not leaving, anybody out, that's the privilege, and that's the challenge, for us, as individuals, as Christians, as a Christian congregation, that we are, to actually, act seriously, and honestly, in humility, towards each other, the humility, that's patterned, on the humility, of Jesus himself, the humility, of service, the humility, of serving one another, remember that,
[14:07] Paul says something, very similar, in a quite, stupendous passage, in Philippians chapter 2, where, as he wrote there, to the Philippians, and such a warm epistle, in many ways, he says there, now complete my joy, by you being, of the same mind, and having the same love, and being in full accord, and of one mind, do nothing, from rivalry, or conceit, but in humility, count others, more significant, or better, than yourselves, let each of you, look not only, to his own interest, but also, to the interest, of others, and then he goes on, to speak about Jesus, have this mind, it says here, among yourselves, I think the older translation, is preferable, have this mind, in you, which was also, in Christ Jesus, who, though in the form, of God, that's in other words, the fully God, he did not count, that's something, to hold on to, to refuse, to come into the form, of a servant, full servanthood, instead, he made himself, nothing, taking the form, of a servant, and being found, in human form, he humbled himself, by coming obedient, to death, even, the death of the cross, there is, the example, the supreme example, and action, of Jesus, in terms of humility, and humbling himself, and we should have to say, all of us, tonight, who, are able to actually, see this for ourselves, in Jesus Christ, to say, well who am I, that I should be proud, who am I, that I should refuse, to minister, to my fellow disciples, to my fellow Christians, to my fellow members, of our congregation, who am I, that I should insist, that I can't actually, engage myself, in that kind of service, who am I, that I should think, of anything, being beneath me, or below me, when the Son of God, became a servant, that's the powerful, truth, the powerful, imagery, the powerful action, of Jesus, that Peter is, here alluding to, when he brings up, this image of, clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility, towards, one another, humble yourselves, therefore, humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty, 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, now again, you can just, see how Peter, has learned, from his own experience, because this is the man, who actually said, to Jesus, though all others, might deny him, he would never, do that,
[17:05] I will not do it, there is Peter, you see, in insisting, looking at himself, and being confident, in himself, and thinking, that he himself, will be able to stand, that even if his fellow disciples, give way, he's not going to do, such a thing, where did that lead him, led him, to that fall, into denial, of Jesus, three times, but he was humbled, by Jesus, looking at him, and as Jesus, looked at him, and really in many ways, looked through him, as Peter realized, the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter, as Luke puts it, he went out, and he wept, bitterly, he realized, what he had done, not just in, denying his Lord, but in not, actually listening, to what the Lord, was saying, about the need, to watch, and to pray, and how the devil, had sought, leave, to get in amongst them, he humbled himself, or, was humbled, and repented, and then was lifted, in restoration, by Jesus, as you read, in John chapter 21, and that reminds us, of something very important, you cannot, detach, humility, as we said, from grace, from the grace, of God, and Christ, from the way,
[18:38] Jesus humbled himself, neither, can you actually, detach humility, from repentance, repentance, you cannot, detach humility, from repentance, to be a humble person, is to be a repentant person, it's to express, to God, sorrow for your sins, it's to seek, the forgiveness of God, in repentance, that's the turning, from sin, towards God, with a determination, to leave sin behind, and to work, at that daily, that's what Peter, himself recalls here, that, they are to humble themselves, under the mighty hand of God, as he had done, under the mighty hand of Jesus, as he had come, in repentance, because you see, if we think of humility, as just, something that belongs, on the level of our relationship, one to another, we can try, and live a humble life, we can try, as best we can, we need to show, that we do accept, other people, at least equal to ourselves, if not actually, above ourselves, but, humility, without repentance, is still, essentially pride, at the heart of it, because it doesn't, actually have, anything beyond, self, and beyond, self ability, humility, humility, in this sense, in which Peter, is talking about it, is a humility, that has come before God, and realized,
[20:14] Lord, I am a great sinner, I ask you forgiveness, I plead with you, to save me, that's humbling yourselves, that's humility, and that works itself, through in your life, as a Christian, when you keep coming back, to this great fact, that the grace of God, in Christ, is the pattern, for our humility, and that as we come, to express, our sin to him, so we come, to follow Jesus, in the pattern, he set for us, in serving God, not that Jesus, needed to repent, of any sin, of course, not saying that, but in the way, that he lived, as a servant, answerable, to the father, who sent him, into the world, remarkable, as that is, that's the reality, of it, and it's the reality, of that grace, that's behind this, humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand, of God, so that, at the proper time, he may, exalt you, at the proper time, probably, refers to the coming, of Christ again, but in any case, what it's saying, is that, when you humble yourself, under the mighty hand, of God, when you repent, when you come, on your knees, before God, when you seek, to maintain, that attitude, and, that action, of humility, in your life, when you really, do genuinely, want to be, a humble Christian, not seeking, a platform, for yourself, and not measuring, yourself, by other people, well,
[21:41] God will actually, exalt you, in due time, in his time, at the appropriate, place in his diary, not when we think, is the right time, for him to do it, and then he says, casting all, your care, or your anxiety, the word is, cares, or anxieties, on him, because he cares, for you, now there's a very, important connection here, that we mustn't, actually miss, because there's a, very important, and the very important, connection is, between humble yourselves, and casting, all your anxieties, on him, because that's, what you're doing, when you cast, all your anxieties, unto God, in the knowledge, that he cares, for you, that's humility, that's yourself, saying, Lord, I can't manage, my life, myself, I can't manage, all of these things, in my life, that you have brought about, in your wisdom, in your providence, I have so many things, in my life, that I know,
[22:43] I cannot myself, control, and manage, and use to my benefit, how am I going, to actually accept, the sufferings, in my life, the temptations, in my life, the unexpected twists, and turns, of my life, you say to the Lord, I have, you have arranged, these for me Lord, please help me, to cast them onto you, to roll them onto you, you see, humility, humbling yourselves, follows on into saying, casting all your anxieties, on him, because, he cares for you, there are a few things, more important, for you, and for me tonight, whatever your relationship, with God is, and particularly, for those, of us, who know him, as our savior, there are a few things, more important, for us, to keep a hold of, than that he, cares for you, that's the ground, on which, you bring your anxieties, and cast them, over to him, he is really saying, he cares for you, so you can do this, safely, you can do this, without fear of loss, you can do this, in a way, that will then, have your life, managed far more, than if you kept, these anxieties, to yourself, because when you're actually, rolling over your anxieties, to God, in the knowledge, that he cares for you, what you're doing, effectively, is saying,
[24:16] Lord, take my life, and make it thine, look after my life, for me, as one who cares, what is it tonight, in your life, that you're anxious about, what anxieties, are you carrying, in your heart, what is it, as you think forward, to tomorrow, God willing, fills your heart, with some measure, of fear, what is it, that's giving you pain, what is it, in your mind, now, that's giving you trouble, what are your thoughts, on, what are the thoughts, behind that pain, in your heart, cast it, on to God, even, even if you've, never done that, before, even if you need, to learn, to do this, again, and again, even if you've, stood back, and said,
[25:19] I really would, I really do, want to be a Christian, I can see, in the lives, of other Christians, what it means, to them, I can see, a contentment, in their lives, that I don't have, I can see, a satisfaction, about them, that I, would really like, to have, in my own life, but you're still, standing back, and you're still, looking into your own heart, and say, well I just don't think, I can, I don't think, I can do it now, I don't want to do it, for the moment, but I do want, to be a Christian, cast it all, upon him, don't doubt, what he's saying, about himself, don't think, that he's not, going to look, after your life, where are you, safer, than under, the care of Christ, under, the care of God, where is there, a shepherding, for your life, like there is, in the good shepherd, who gave his life, for his people, where can you, find such management, as will manage, your life, successfully, whatever it's, going to mean, in terms of, experiencing pain, and loss, and sorrow, and things you can't, understand in this world, and troubles, and all sorts of things, that really, lie behind, the grief, that comes into our lives, from time to time, where can you find, a management, of all of these things, together, except as you find it, in God himself, humble yourselves, therefore, casting all your anxieties, on him, because he cares, for you, if we believe, that tonight, this is what, we're going to be doing, now I know,
[27:01] I know what you're saying, I'm saying it to myself, I do this in my head, I do this in my thoughts, I do this from day to day, but then I find myself, taking all that back, and starting to worry, and being anxious, well that's really, just taking the anxieties, back isn't it, yourself, and being anxious about it, as if you were, the manager, of your own life, you have to learn, and this is not something, that comes overnight, that's because, you come to be a Christian, and come to know, conversion, and new birth, that doesn't mean, that everything, to do with this, falls into place instantly, that you come to be, really perfect, in humility, and in humbling ourselves, under the mighty hand of God, and then casting all our anxieties, onto him, but it's something, you work at, it's something you learn, as you go on, it's something that you, give a mind to, day by day, it's something that you, pray about, it's something that, you bring before the Lord, and ask him for his help, with that, but do it tonight, do it again, do it again, and again, that's what life's about, as a Christian, casting all your anxieties, on him, because he, cares, for you, that's the first thing, then be humble, look after each other, more briefly, secondly, be watchful, look out, for the devil, be sober minded, be watchful, by that he means, have that state of mind, it's really,
[28:35] I suppose in a sense, it's really, Peter saying, if you wanted to, get the punch, that he really has, in these words, he's saying, stay awake, don't fall asleep, spiritually, why, because your adversary, is prowling around, the devil, is looking, for someone, to devour, and he devours, those, who slumber, spiritually, that's why, he's saying to them there, be sober minded, be watchful, your adversary, the devil, prowls around, like a roaring lion, seeking someone, to devour, resist him, for him, in your faith, or in the faith, enemies, now you see, the description, that he's giving, to the devil, first of all, he calls him, your adversary, and in those days, that was, a term, that was used, in a legal setting, there's very often, the word, that was used, for a legal representative, who, in a court of law, was your opponent, if he was prosecuting, a case against you, he is your adversary, so then, same kind of, legal terms, used today, but of course,
[29:41] Peter is using it, spiritually, of the devil, the devil, is your adversary, he stands opposed, to you, with a mind, and a will, and a purpose, that wants to actually, not just oppose you, but if it were at all, possible, to undo, what God has done, Romans chapter 8, comes to mind, doesn't it, where, Paul is saying, who shall, bring any charge, against God's chosen people, against God's elect, it is God, who justifies, let's go back, to the old testament, looked at this recently, in a Gaelic service, to the way, in which Balaam, in the book of numbers, was hired, by the king of Moab, Balak, why was he hired, he was hired, so that he would come, and curse the people, of Israel, who were passing, through Moabite territory, in the way to Canaan, come, he said to Balaam, and curse me, this people, Balak wanted to, actually destroy, these people, though they were, no threat to him actually, he just had it, in his heart, to annihilate them, to do away with them, to overcome them, so in order, for his armies, to be sure, of victory, he hired, this soothsayer, this seer,
[30:53] Balaam, an evil man, to curse, these people, and Balaam, came to acknowledge, because God came, and met him, and God put words, in his heart, words that he had, to speak, he was forced, to speak them, much to Balak's, disquiet, and annoyance, but what it essentially, was is this, how can I curse, those God has not cursed, and how can I bless, those that God has not blessed, see there's evil, the person of Balaam, coming to acknowledge, where God has blessed, they are blessed, nothing's going to reverse that, who shall bring any charge, against him, but the devil does try, and the devil has an access, to our lives, in a way that uses, those that are, under his control, under his direction, to try and undermine, your confidence in Christ, your confidence in the gospel, evil, isn't there a voice, right now, in your mind, or has been, since the service began, saying something to you, that is different, in some way, to what God is saying to you, about committing, all your life to him, and your anxieties, being rolled out, onto God, casting them onto him, there's a voice that says, you don't have to go that far, where's that voice from, from the devil, from the one, who wants you to lose your soul, to end up in hell, to be with him there, he's your adversary, and then the word devil itself, it's a word that means, slanderer, what Peter is doing, you see, is drawing the minds, of those he's writing to, we've seen it all the way, through the letter, the sufferings, they're going through, the trials, that they're having to endure, the persecution, that at times, has broken out, and has come to, inflict pain on them, only saying, remember, where all of that, is really from, essentially, it's under the director, of evil, it's your adversary, the slanderer, that's the malign, and malicious influence, that opposes the gospel, doesn't care, what means, he has access to, what means, he uses to do it, but that's his intention, and as we said, this morning, that there is no goodness, and that there is nothing, but goodness, nothing opposite, to goodness, in God, there is no goodness, in the devil, not an iota of it, and Jesus well knew it, when he described him as, a liar, and the father of lies, there is no truth, in him, that's the enemy, that's the one you're facing, and he's like, he says, a roaring lion, prowling around, seeking someone, to devour, go back, to the reading, we had in Job, where,
[34:03] God, came to ask, Satan, where he had come from, he said, from, going to and fro, on the earth, and walking up, and down on it, prowling, around, looking for a victim, you see how it is, with, a roaring lion, roaring lion, here means, yes, there's, there's intimidation, there's, that which makes you scared, but, the emphasis especially, is on a hungry lion, a lion, that's roaring, because it's hungry, and it wants something to eat, and it's out for a victim, and when you look at video, footage of, lions going about, their hunting, you see them coming to, maybe a herd of wildebeest, and the way they go about hunting, they target, the youngest, or the weakest, and they try and actually, isolate, that one, from the rest of the herd, and they work their, tactics, so that eventually, either he falls behind, it falls behind the rest of the herd, as they run, or in some way, or other becomes isolated, and that's it, lions close in, and that's the end of it, and Satan has, spiritual tactics, and that's why, again, when Paul was writing, to the Ephesians, you remember in chapter 6, and telling them there, that he needed to, actually take up, the whole armor of God, and how, that was so essential, for them, finally he says, be strong in the Lord, and the strength of his might, put on, the whole armor of God, that you may be able, to stand against, the schemes, of the devil, the cunning, the strategies, the worked out plans, of the devil, he doesn't come, any more than a lion, comes to a herd, without having worked out, what they're going to do, and the strategy, by which they're going to, pick out their victim, what he says, we do not wrestle, against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers, over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces, of evil, in heavenly places, and sometimes lions, are not very obvious, when they're in the long grass, and coming, trying to creep up close, to, wherever they're going to have, their victim, and the devil is like that too, and one of the most, effective camouflages, that he uses, is the idea, that it doesn't really exist, at all, that's just a figment, of human imagination, it's just a kind of, bogeyman emphasis, that down through the years, has taken on the characteristics, of the devil, or that in those days, of the apostle, they believed in such things, but now that we've moved on, and especially where we are now, as human beings, at this particular juncture, in history, surely you don't believe, literally in the devil, well, this is either the word of God, or it isn't, this is either the truth, or it isn't, and if it is the truth, then you know that, not only is there such a being, as the devil, and that that being, is entirely untruthful, but he is prowling around, and he's prowling around, here tonight, seeking a victim, seeking whom he may devour, the word means swallowed up, devoured, so he says, be watchful, be sober minded, be watchful, resist to me, he says, firm in your faith, knowing the same kinds of suffering, are being experienced, by your brotherhood, throughout the world, and he uses brotherhood, very advisedly, because again, the emphasis, he is on the unity, the togetherness,
[38:04] that gives strength, to God's people, but notice what he's saying, resist to him, firm in the faith, and what he means by that, is not so much, your exercise of faith, but the faith, the Christian faith, the great doctrines, of the faith, the foundational things, of the faith, what you have, in Christ, what you have, in the grace of God, what you have, in all that the Bible, emphasizes, emphasizes, is foundational, to your salvation, resist him, steadfast, firm in that, don't give away, an inch to him, in your conviction, of what is true, and what isn't, and what God is, and who God is, and what is not true, of the Lord, resist him, steadfast, in the faith, knowing that the same, kinds of suffering, are being experienced, by your brotherhood, throughout the world, I was watching some, video footage, the other day actually, of, a herd, of,
[39:13] African buffalo, wasn't a very big herd, but they were being, they were being watched, and, followed by, six or seven lions, and as the video footage, wound on, you could see, how the herd, was packing itself together, because the lion, was obviously, looking at the calves, of the herd, as the most, as the weakest, members of the herd, and it was quite wonderful, seeing that whole herd, of African buffalo, with the big, giant buffaloes, the bulls, and some of the cows, on the outside, and they had put, the calves, in the middle of, that group, in the middle of the herd, and as the lions, kept attacking, from various sides, what they did, was swung round, they kept swinging round, so that the calves, were always, protected in the middle, and the only way, the lion could get to them, was first of all, going through, those that he would not, be able to overcome, the big ones, and to me, that was, really a wonderful illustration, of what we're looking at tonight, that we protect, one another, and we protect, especially, the most vulnerable, not just the, young children, and young people, of the congregation, but those, that are perhaps, more prone, to temptations, that, they may fall into, or to protect, those who, have problems, facing temptation, falling into temptation, whatever it is, here's what Peter, is saying to us, humble yourselves, under the mighty hand, of God, casting all your cares, upon him, for he cares for you, and be watchful, be watchful together, be watchful, look out for one another, because your adversary, the devil, is prowling around, let's make sure, that our strength, is in our unity, in our being, of the one mind, of the same mind, and in thinking, of others better, than ourselves, because all of that, is what lends, our strength to us, from the Lord, of course, as Ephesians 4, a chapter of, emphasizing, so much about unity, of the unity, of God's people, but in the middle of it there, in the middle of that passage, there's this emphasis, that you, no longer, be driven around, or driven about, by every wind, of doctrine, by the slight, of people, of men, by which, they lay in wait, to deceive, the devil, is always active, and as he's always active, he's always seeking, whom he may devour, let's be humble, and look after each other, let's be watchful, and look out, for the devil, so that we may, go on together, in the strength, that the Lord gives, let's pray,
[42:27] Lord our God, we thank you, anew this evening, for the grace, that has come to us, in such rich abundance, in Jesus Christ, and we thank you, for the provision, that that grace, has made for us, in salvation, and we give thanks, for the direction, of your word to us, as to where, our safety lies, and we pray tonight, oh Lord, that each of us here, may know what it is, to cast all our anxieties, onto you, and to be convinced, that you care for us, and to act on the basis, of what your truth, holds before us, that we may indeed, come to be willing servants, of the Lord Jesus Christ, help us Lord, we pray, to have that protective measure, against the devil, that we have been thinking, of this evening, to be steadfast, and resisting him, in the faith, in the great things, of your salvation, continue with us, we pray throughout this week, and in all of this, we ask, that you would, bless to us, your own word of truth, for Jesus sake,
[43:32] Amen. Well our final psalm, of praise this evening, is psalm number 18, psalm 18, we're singing from, verse 27, that's in the sing psalms version, on page 21, psalm 18, at page 21, the tune this time, is Duke Street, we're singing verses 27, to 32, you save the humble, and the meek, but bring the proud, down from their height, you Lord, will keep my lamp, aflame, God turns my darkness, into light, with help from God, I can advance, against a troop, and rout them all, with the aid, my God will give, I can leap, over any wall, verses 27, to 32, to his praise, you save, the humble, and the meek, but bring the proud, down from their height, you Lord, you Lord, will keep, my lamp, aflame,
[44:54] God turns my darkness, into light, with help from God, I can advance, against the truth, unroutable, and with the aid, my God will give, I can leap, over any wall, for perfect is, the way of God, no flaw is found, within his word, to all who put, their trust in him, a shield, and refuge, in the Lord, for who is God, except the Lord, besides our God, who is the rock, he is the God, who gives me strength, and he perfects, the path I walk,
[46:50] I'll go to this side note here this evening, now may grace, and mercy, and peace from God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you now, and evermore, Amen.