The mighty hand of God I Peter 5:5-7 

“Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “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”

• Peter continues to write to the church about how to serve God willingly 
• He has addressed the elders and leaders to shepherd the flock by guiding and protecting them 
• Likewise – you young men (the maturing in Christ)
  • Listen to the counsel of the elders – seek their counsel 
• Clothe yours in humility towards one another 
• Humble yourself under the Mighty hand of God 
• And cast your cares unto the Lord 

1.The Mighty hand of God 

• We need to recognize the power of God 
• Our worldly interpretation of power – which taints how we see God
  • Same as the Fatherlessness – that taints how we see God 
  • My experience – Dad (A word of endearment)
• Let us not corrupt our Image of God because of our experiences here on earth
• What does the Bible say about His Power? 
• Psalms 33:6-9(Nkjv) By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
  And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. 7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap; He lays up the deep in storehouses.8 Let all the earth fear the Lord; Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. 9 For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.
  • What do you need Him to Speak to in your life today? – Marriage, Children, Job, Health – He is able
• History has shown us that He is more than capable: 
• Joshua 6 – The great wall of Jericho fell after the Israelites matched around the wall for 7 days and the wall fell down
  • Mighty man, who could have used their weapon, but the power of God through music brought down strongholds 
  • Makes you think differently when everyone else is worshipping and you are sipping your coffee, or have your hands are in the pocket
• Psalms 100:1-4( Nkjv) Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God!
  It is he who made us, and we are his;[a] we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
  • What walls of problems do you need to dance today worshipping God for victory even before they see Victory?
• He made away through the Red Sea
• Exodus 14:13-14 (Nkjv) – And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Standstill, and see the salvation[b] of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold[c] your peace.
  • He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow- Forever and He can, and He will make away for you if you cry out to Him 
• There is nothing impossible for Our Lord 
• But that is easy to read these stories like a novel, because they are not personal – Yes, you are not matching around the wall, yes you are not crossing the red sea, yes you are not in the lion’s den, or the burning furnace…
• However, the story we are going to look at is a situation that we can all find ourselves in  
• Pay attention because God hasn’t changed because we have 
• The story of King Nebuchadnezzar
  • In my opinion, these King was loved by God very much
    • He chastens those He loves 
    • And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
  • Nebuchadnezzar was the popular king of Babylon who ruled the throne during the time of the Judean exile 
  • He took over from his father and he was a fighter and conquered many battles 
  • The Lord spoke to him in dreams way before he knew who God was
  • He attacked Judah, captured Jerusalem (Jeremiah 21)- The Lord allowed it to punish the Jews people for their disobedience
  • A few years after he conquered Judah, he had a particular group of young Hebrew boys to become educated within his court. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These young men would really reveal God to him by their act of defiance. (Daniel 3)
  • Later the King Nebuchadnezzar first dream – (Dan 2)
    • The statue of Gold, Silver and Bronze 
    • God gives Daniel the interpretation
    • The Kingdoms to come – That God was going to lift him up as one of the Kingdoms to come
  • King Nebuchadnezzar setup up a large statue and forces all to worship it (Dan 3) Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego were put into the fiery furnace, God delivered them.
  • He orders everyone to worship the God of these young man but soon enough He forgets – But God doesn’t forget what He has done in your live 
  • Nebuchadnezzar has a 2nd dream of a large tree. God gives Daniel the interpretation (Dan 4).

Daniel 4: 29- 33 ( ESV) All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, ³⁰ and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” ³¹ While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, ³² and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” ³³ Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

• He gave this man great power to punish the Israelites for their disobedience and also broke him when he forgot who was in charge 
• Multiple times, God offered an opportunity to know who He truly was and to remember 
•  But we are quick to forget who has put us where we are, who has given us all that we have, who is moving in our lives (Jobs, Family, Wealth, Health, Relationship) The one that sent His only son to come for you and I
• Look at the life I have created for myself # 
• When we know how powerful our God is:
  • Then we recognize that He is capable of raising or tearing anyone and anything down 
  • Romans 9:17-18( Esv) – 7 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
• What is too Great for our Lord? 

2. Humble yourself and you will be lifted up 

Vs.6 Therefore, humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up 

• When we think about the Mighty hand of God, most of us think of Wars and Submission- However, this mighty hand of God can life you up 
• When He says I will lift you up, know that it’s a great deal – It’s a big deal 
• He knows your inside thoughts – He is all knowing- Yet He promises to lift us up 
• The idea of God sending His only Son to come and die for us, knowing very well who we are is -beyond my comprehension 
• So is the idea of Him promising to lift me up…a sinner, its not 
• I don’t know why we shouldn’t be fighting to be lifted up – vs fighting each other in positions of this world 
• He will exalt you in due time 
• He lifted David as small boy while he was still in the field as shepherd 
• He lifted up Joseph – a boy sold as a slave 
• He lifted up Saul to be King
• He lifted up Easter – Used to save her people
• He lifted up Rahab the prostitute 
• The disciples – regular common people 
• Humble yourself before the Lord and He will lift you up – 

Daniel 4:34-37 – And at the end of the [a]time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:

For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
He does according to His will in the army of heaven
And among the inhabitants of the earth.
No one can restrain His hand
Or say to Him, “What have You done?”

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

3. Cast your burdens 

• Cast your issues, fears, anxiety, pride, lust, low self-esteem, 
• If He is capable of all these things? – Why are you still carrying your burdens 
• Psalms 55:22( Nkjv) – Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you;
  He shall never permit the righteous to be ^[a]moved.
• Psalms 18:31-33 (Nkjv) – For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? It is God who arms me with strength And makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer And sets me on my high places.
• You got so many burdens you can’t run your race 
• The issue is not that you can’t run (i.e Read your Word, Pray and fast) its that you weight is pulling you down. 
• We are called to run a race – with endurance 
• Hebrew 12:1-2 (Nkjv) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
• Psalms 18:29 – With your help I can advance against a troop ; with my God I can scale a wall.
• Daniel 4:34-37 – And at the end of the [a]time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever:
• For His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
  And His kingdom is from generation to generation.
  35 All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing;
  He does according to His will in the army of heaven
  And among the inhabitants of the earth.
  No one can restrain His hand
  Or say to Him, “What have You done?”
• 36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and splendor returned to me. My counselors and nobles resorted to me, I was restored to my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added to me. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

This evening I want you to recognize the powerful hand of God, that can save you- There is nothing impossible for our God

No sin is too big He can’t save, no person is gone too far to be reached 

For God so loved the world (you and I) that He gave His only Son to come and pay for our sins

And if you cry out to the Lord, He will save you and lift you up out of whatever you are in and set you on a new path

That is called – been born again – I will give you a new heart and a new song says the Lord!

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