God Exalts The Humble

Our Opening Verse This Morning

“For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Lk 14:11)

Dignified, magnify, glorify, acclaim. Nagmamataas.

Let us pray…

Aasha’s story

Once upon a time, two brothers grew up on a farm. One loved framing, the other hated it. The one who hated farming eventually went away to college, earned a law degree, and became a partner in a prominent law firm in the CITY. The other brother stayed in the province on the family farm doing what farmers do. One day the lawyer came and visited his brother, the farmer. He asked, "Why don't you go out and do something important, and make a name for yourself like I have so that you can hold your head up high in the world like me." The brother pointed and said, "See that field of wheat over there? Look closely. Only the stalks with empty heads stand up straight and tall. Those that are well filled always bow low."

Said differently, "The branch that bears the most fruit is bent the lowest to the ground."

A theologian once said, there are three important traits or 3 important qualities of a true Christian - The first one is Humility, the second one is Humility and the third one is humility. Yes you got that right.

What is the biblical definition of humility? What does it mean to humble ourselves? And why is it the most important trait of a true Christian?

Well - That's my prayer this morning, that as we go through scripture; that the real definition of humility will become real to you.

I remember a movie called Devil's Advocate staring Al Pacino as the devil himself in this film. Anyway, there's a line that he has been know for saying - and that is - PRIDE, it's my favorite sin.

And rightly so as in Genesis 3, the devil demonstrated this clearly. It is pride that led Adam and Eve astray. Pride is putting self over God. Pride is thinking we are self-autonomous; makers and owners of our destiny.

The past 2 generations, we have seen a significant increase in mans obsession with self-esteem, self-fulfillment, self-ambition, self-glory. ME, Myself and I first. And in our generation today, selfies has become a word in the dictionary and the word humblebrag. Have you heard of this. Well a. humble brag or humblebragging is to make a seemingly modest, self-critical, or casual statement or reference that is meant to draw attention to one's admirable or impressive qualities or achievements

I once attended a seminar that was teaching people how to be an expert in a certain field and brand yourself as such an expert for financial gain. It was a very attractive proposition, I might add. Very lucrative as well. Self-branding is a huge industry and we can see it especially in social media, youtube, instagram and definitely something that as also exploded in TikTok. One bible teacher called it the cult of SELFISM. But you know what, we shouldn’t be surprised. Why? Well its because of our education system. because that how we have been taught in school, colleges and universities. For centuries, the measure of a successful student or an athlete has always been to be Number one. To be the best, to be first. Majority of school systems around the world, would edify, honor, respect those who excel in their field. They are rewarded, magnified and put on stage. And so we have unknowingly, unwittingly, not deliberately allowed PRIDE, EGO, SELF-ambition creep into society.

The Apostle Paul, before he became a Christian was himself the epitome of self-ambition. He was raised a jew, learned of the law and he rose through the ranks of Judaism and became one of the greatest opposition of JESUS Christ. The followers of JESUS feared him so much; scripture would loosely put PAUL the one who orchestrated the persecution and killing of the first Christian martyr - STEPHEN. PAUL exalted himself until he was humbled by JESUS. And so in Philippians 2:3-4 Paul, from His own personal experience most likely, had this to say:

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

See pride, ego, arrogance - they're brothers. They live in the same household. They wear the same clothes. What bothers me is that these brothers have infiltrated our faith and sometimes; pride, ego and arrogance is repackaged in the form of "blessings." What do I mean by that.

How many times have you seen people post photos of themselves with their new cars, new houses or dream vacation, bucket list checked on social media with the hashtag BLESSED or #Answered prayer! #hashtag thank you JESUS? I'm quite certain, if you ask the person who posted; Uhm since you have included JESUS in the post; did he approve the post? Did He sign-off on this? I'm sure you know God's answer to that question. I mean, on the flipside; I have yet to see a post that says, Thank you JESUS for my cancer! This dreadful disease has finally affected by body! #blessed. Really, if you search your heart, what was the intention behind the post?