Pastor Tim Brown, Calvary Chapel Fremont, Sunday February 7, 2010

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The Firewall of the Church

1 Peter 5:5-7

Vv1-4 - responsibilities of the l’ship of the church.  The leaders have three functions: to example the character of Christ/teach the Word of God/watch over those in the church.  V5 – younger men are expected 2b subject to the l’ship of the church.  

Younger men r2 subject themselves to the example/teaching/ oversight of the elders.  Likewise = in the same manner that the elders serve the church/exercise their l’ship - not reluctantly/ unemotionally/thoughtlessly, but w/ purpose/passion.  

Men r2b men of God and young men r2 become men of God by following the lead of their elders.  In our culture, many young men don’t become men of God, but remain young men.  Why? Precisely because they don’t subject themselves.  It’s a tragedy to see millions of young men in their 20s concerned w/ nothing more than rushing home to play video games.

Recently, sociologists extended adolescence to age 26.  Children are growing up faster/staying children longer.  Biological growth/social awareness/financial power + little responsibility.  Privilege w/o responsibility = emotional/spiritual stagnation – arrested development.

Not so long ago, the average mid-twenty-something had achieved most of adulthood’s milestones—high school degree/financial independence/marriage/children. These days, he lingers in a new hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence. Some call this new period “emerging adulthood,” others “extended adolescence”.  

The magazine Maxim asked the SYM what he wanted and heard, “I don’t want to grow up.”  Maxim happily obliged.  They rely heavily on picture-laden features promoting barely dressed models/the latest skateboards/video games.  Men between the ages of 18 and 34 are now the biggest gamers.,

The SYM with a taste for Maxim or South Park does not care for anyone who tells him to behave — teachers/nutritionists/prohibitionists/vegetarians/librarians/church ladies/ counselors/moralists of all stripes…  www.city-journal.org/2008/18_1_single_young_men.html

There are whole industries dedicated to neutering the young men of this generation.  A younger man submitting himself to the example/ teaching/oversight of the elders/shepherds of the church will grow n2 godly manhood.  There are plenty of women who are hoping that their husbands will grow up 2b godly men.

From addressing the young men to all: clothe yourself w/ humility.  Humility brings the young men n2 submission to their elders.  Humility brings a young man to the realization that there's a lot he doesn't know/much he has to learn.  Humility is the glue that holds together the body of Christ.  Humility is the firewall of the church.  

A firewall is a dedicated appliance, or software running on a computer, which inspects network traffic passing through it, and denies or permits passage based on a set of rules.  Humility is the firewall of your soul/the church – it protects you from viruses that the world/flesh/devil want to download n2 your soul/church.  When there is something suspicious seeking to make its way into my computer, my firewall deals w/ it or will send me an alert about potential problems.  When humility is active in your life, it protects your soul/the church from deadly viruses that can damage/destroy.  

What is humility?

Humility = 2b low/insignificant – used of the insignificant power of a city/country.

A humble city/country was one that you didn’t have to fear/watch out for – they weren’t expected to deliver much of anything.  They had an ill-equipped army/depressed economy/small population.  Not much was expected from them – held in low esteem.

What would you feel if you heard that Lithuania (pop. 3.5 M) had declared war against us?  China or Russia?  Lightweight v heavyweight.  

NT utilizes this word in the other direction.  It’s not that I don’t think much of you, it’s that I don’t think much of me – I’m a lightweight.  And more than that, I don’t expect you to think much of me.  False humility is when I don’t think much of me but am outraged when you don’t think much of me, either.  I can leave today thinking that I preached a sub-par sermon, but if you let me know you think the same thing – watch out!

True humility is unruffled when others don’t think much of you/ overlook/ignore you.  This is only possible because ur looking to the Lord.  Humility is the fruit of being connected to God in such a way that even if people look down upon you/don’t think much of you, your soul can thrive because ur connected w/ God.

Phil. 2:3-8  Jesus humbled Himself…He left His power behind – He became a lightweight.  He left all the bling hanging in the closet.  Jesus didn’t make His way through life forcing people to recognize Him and do as he wanted them to do.  “I demand that you confess that I am the Son of God or I will crush you like the worm that ur.”  

Jesus didn’t have a military structure to the team gathered around Him.  There weren’t recognized ranks w/ a clear understanding of who you reported to/who reported 2u.  Jesus didn’t put together a group of people that needed an organizational chart.  He didn’t leave any of the apostles in charge when He ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit. 

He moved through life w/ humility and He moved in authority, but  He didn’t throw His weight around.  He didn’t do miracles/perform works of power and then threaten people that if they didn’t submit He would crush them.  He doesn’t demand that you recognize Him as the Son of God/Substitute/Savior.  

Jesus teaches us to not throw our weight around – to not live by force/manipulation.  Don’t insist on your way – give place to others.  We are called n2 community – 2b the people of God.  There’s only one way community will work – humility – making room for others.  From the smallest community, marriage, to the largest – humankind.  

Humility is: not thinking much of yourself/thinking much of others/ thinking everything of Jesus.

Being humble means you can allow yourself 2b overlooked and not get bitter about it.  Many are overlooked/not considered and then are bitter about it and it eats away at their soul.  Humility is that firewall that keeps the bitterness away.  “Who am I that people should pay attention to me and make room in their schedules for me?” Humility keeps you looking to the Lord for what He has 4u.  Pride carries a machete and hacks its way through life; humility waits for the Lord to shine the light upon the path.  

Do you wish people to think well of you? Don’t speak well of yourself.  Blaise Pascal 

Clothe yourself in humility - e)gko/mbwma - an article of clothing over the naked body.  tdnt  Humility isn’t a robe thrown on over all your other clothing, it is the 1st thing you put on.  Humility isn’t an afterthought, it precedes all thought.

God is opposed to the proud…

If the humble is someone who doesn’t throw his weight around and gives place to others, the proud is one who insists on his way and throws her weight around.  

Pride: Gr. – to shine above.  48 Laws of Power (pride):

Law 6 – Court Attention At All Cost.  Everything is judged by appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing.  Never let yourself get lost in the crowd or buried in oblivion.  Stand out.  Be conspicuous at all cost.

Law 7 – Get Others To Do The Work For You, But Always Take The Credit.  Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause.  Never do for yourself what others can do for you.

God goes to war against the proud – cf. Pharaoh.

Gives grace to the humble…

Deuteronomy 8:1-3  Israel was humbled in the wilderness/allowed 2b hungry.  None of the food they normally ate in Egypt was available to them in the wilderness.  No Food Maxx/Safeway.  They were hungry and then God fed them manna.  He gave them that which would sustain their bodies in the wilderness.  No one else had the manna but Israel – and it got them through.  

A humble soul will not feed on the diet of pride – I’m important/ people should pay attention to me/I’m better than you.  A humble soul doesn’t make this his diet.  The diet of the humble soul is the grace of God.  God gives grace – the form of the verb means that He gives grace ongoingly.  No one else can feed on this grace but those who are humble b4 the Lord.  The humble don’t need other people to pay attention to them/stroke them/prop up a poor self-image because God is paying attention to them and making Himself a part of their lives.  

At one point the people cried out for meat – that which they had eaten in Egypt.  God gave them meat and it turned rancid in their mouths.  When you feed on pride, this is what happens.  When you demand that people pay attention 2u/position yourself 2b admired and applauded – it will backfire.  Cf. Simon Magus.

Some of ur trying to get people to pay attention 2u and don’t see the attention God is giving 2u…