Sermon Central
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Humility 2016
Contributed by Stephen Belokur on Apr 20, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: Humility is disdained by this world but the Kingdom of God and the citizens of Heaven are those who are contrite and humble. Sometimes we need to examine ourselves to see if we are prideful or humble. Hopefully this sermon helps us with that examination.
Luke 14:1-11 (read from the Bible and have the congregation follow along)
Luke 14:11 NIV
“All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Humility … humility in relationship to God comes from knowing that God is God and we are not and then living in accordance to that relationship as He designed and intended it to be.
In this world of pluralism and false-tolerance holding a belief that there is One God and that He is the only way to eternal life is considered to be arrogant.
So, as those who follow the teaching of God’s Holy Word are really arrogant or are we humble? It can be either because it’s all in the attitude!
Let’s take a look at this little quiz and see how we think of ourselves in relation to humility:
Do you spend more time thinking about yourself than about God or about other
people?
Do you make yourself the center of most conversations?
Do you compare yourself with others often, judging yourself favorably?
Do you take credit for your own looks, intelligence, or ability?
Do you try to make sure that others are aware of your personal gifts or
possessions?
Do you think you deserve more of this world’s good things than other people do?
Are you willing to pursue your selfish goals even if it means others are hurt in the process?
Do you think God must be pleased with you because of how ethical or religious you are?
Do you ever think you do not really need God or other people?
Now, that was a fun little quiz (hopefully) but how do we REALLY tell if we are humble or not?
We compare ourselves with the Word of God!
These main points come from an article I read which was written by John Piper.
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1. Humility begins with a sense of subordination to God.
Subordination - the act of placing in a lower rank or position
Every private in the army is in a place of subordination to every sergeant and every officer. We are in subordination to God. Subordination includes submission. In humility we submit to the will of our Heavenly Commander in Chief, the King of kings and Lord of lords!
This is in direct opposition of the path of the world.
The world we live in says, “I’ll go where I want to go. I’ll do what I want to do, I’ll think what I want to think. I’ll be what I want to be. It’s my life and I’ll live it however I want to live it!”
Matthew 10:24 NASB
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master”
For those of us who love Jesus with an all-consuming love it would be unthinkable to question His teachings found in Scripture and His teachings found in Scripture demand humility as demonstrated by Jesus Himself.
1 Peter 5:5b-6a NIV
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God.”
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2. Humility does not feel a right to better treatment than Jesus got.
Matthew 10:25 NLT (this is Jesus speaking to His disciples)
“Students are to be like their teacher, and slaves are to be like their master. And since I, the master of the household, have been called the prince of demons, the members of my household will be called by even worse names!”
Therefore humility does not return evil for evil.
Humility is not life based on its perceived rights.
1 Peter 2:21-23 ISV
“This is, in fact, what you were called to do, because: The Messiah also suffered for you and left an example for you to follow in His steps.
“He never sinned, and He never told a lie. When He was insulted, He did not retaliate. When He suffered, He did not threaten. It was His habit to commit the matter to the One who judges fairly.”
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3. Humility asserts truth not to bolster ego with control or with triumphs in debate, but as service to Christ and love to the adversary.
We don’t study the Word of God to win arguments with unbelievers or other believers! If we do, we both lose.
If we ever leave a “conversation” with someone about the things of the Lord feeling like, “I guess I told them” we have failed at the humility that God desires.
We assert the truth of the Gospel in order to love the other person as God loves them and out of love for God Himself.
No one ever came to faith in Christ by being figuratively “hit over the head” with the Gospel. Speak the truth in love.
“Love rejoices in the truth”
