6.08.2024

Humility


BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO OUR SUMMER STUDY:

The Marks of a Christian and the Fruit of the Spirit are not just for private experience.
As the sermons on Romans 12 have reminded us, gifts are meant for the body of Christ.
The same is true for the gifts of the Spirit and Christian character
They are God-focused.   Remember, they come from God and show His glory.
They are also outward-focused.  They are to help us show God's love to others and help the church grow.

THIS WEEK'S MARK: HUMILITY

Definition:

"Pursuing humility means choosing to accept the fact that your knowledge and abilities are limited. In light of that, you regularly seek help and graciously receive advice and correction." (Time for the Talk) 

In thinking about the above definition, there are a couple of points to remember.  All of us limited and need help.  This help is sometimes found when it is sought after.  Other times, it may be given with no after being offered.  Each of us need to consider what is being said and what can be learned.  

Questions to consider:

What is the difference between pride and humility?  
  • Pride is when the focus in on oneself.  "Proud people believe that life is all about them - their happiness, their accomplishments, and their worth."  (Pride to Humility, p. 5) 
  • "Humble people are focused on God and then others, not on self." (Pride to Humility, p. 16)
What does humility have to do with the Gospel? 
Why is it hard to be humble?

Verses

"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness."

This verse is a very simple, repeated message.  This life is not about us.  It is about our loving, faithful God and His glory. 

God, grow in me an ever-growing desire to glorify you and not myself.  Remind me over again of your steadfast love nd faithfulness.

"And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord."

While the Israelites were wandering in the wilderness because of their disobedience, God humbled them, even in how He provided food - an unknown food, manna.  Their forty years of wandering in the wilderness served God's purpose.

God, help never forget that you are working the circumstances of our lives for your glory and our good, even the lowest of times.

Thus says the Lord:
"Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
All these things my hand has made,
and so all these things came to be,
declares the Lord.
But this is the one to whom I will look:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit
and trembles at my word.

God is awesome - so much bigger than the heavens and the earth and he looks for those are humble, broken, and tremble at His word. 

God, you are over heaven and earth.  You have made everything.  God, make me into one you desire, one who is humbe, is broken over my sin, and trembles at Your word.  Make me yours because I am yours.

"I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love," 

Paul urges the Ephesians to live out the life the Christian life.  And this is humble, gentle, patient, and loving.   

God, thank you for saving and sanctifying me.  Help me and our church to live out your work in our lives.  God, help me grow in humility, gentleness, patience, and love for others.  Amen.

"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'  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."

Once again, a clear reminder that we must humble ourselves before God in this life.  This not merely a message for "super" Christians.  This is a message for every Christian.  Clothe yourselves with humility. An observation someone in class made was they had never considered the "casting all your anxieties on him" in the context of humbling oneselves before our mighty God.   

God, you have clearly told us that you oppose the proud but give grace to the humble.  Help me to see who I am light of who you are.  Grow in me a patient, hopeful, humble trust in You, the one who works things out according to your sovereign plans and in your sovereign timing. 

Moving from Pride to Humility (Pride to Humility, p. 26)

  1. Humble yourself with the Gospel and a cross-centered perspective (James 4:7)
  2. Pray for God to search your heart (by His Spirit with His Word) and to help you repent of pride and grow in humility (Psalm 139).
  3. Study Jesus (His earthly example, especially in the Gospels, Matthew 11:28-30). Focus on His humility.
  4. Ask others if you come across as prideful in any way.  You would do well to have a few people close to you look over your self-evaluations of pride and humility and give their thoughts on your assessment. Remember, pride can be blinding.
  5. Spend as much focused time as possible worshiping God (e.g., praising, praying, reading, and meditating). Be sure to center on the love of God demonstrated at the Cross.
  6. Practice the "one-another" principles.
  7. Work to put off pride and put on humility at the level of your thoughts and motives.
  8. Work to put off pride and put on humility at the level of your communication.
  9. Work to put off pride and put on humility at the level of your deeds.
  10. Have the mindset that humility must be a way of life (Philippians 2:3).
The next mark is JOY!

Additional Humility Resources:
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