Promotion Comes To The Humble

Promotion Cometh to the Humble

I. Consider and contrast two characters:

• Judas – was called a thief, was said of him that he had a devil,

• Peter – flesh ruled, mouth got him into trouble, self-seeking

 Both had the same opportunity – both had one of the greatest callings (original 12), Had power to heal and over unclean spirits (Matt 10:1-4)

 One became a great man of God the other committed suicide – was the difference the type of sin they had in their lives?

o Because Judas had a devil he had no chance? (Demoniac of Gadera)

o Was it because he was a thief and there is no way a thief can make it right? (guy on the cross – Mark 15:27)

Both were Apostles of the Lamb – one of twelve positions that man can hold – both had Jesus as their personal instructor – both lived in the Presence of God for 3.5 years – both heard all the Words and teachings of Christ – and both had areas in their lives that would keep them from experiencing the purpose of God

Question: What was the difference that caused one to experience total failure and the other to experience powerful success?

Submission (one submitted themselves allowing God to change them – the other didn’t): 1 a : to yield to governance or authority

Interesting point: The one who wouldn’t submit or lower himself is the one that fail and the one who lowered himself is the one who was promoted

Matt 23:12

12 And whosoever shall exalt (to elevate) himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble (to depress) himself shall be exalted. (KJV)

 when the Bible deals with any type of issue is it the main focus the natural manifestation or the spirit behind it?

 Bible is Spirit and life (John 6:63) – The Bible deals with spiritual laws that govern natural actions

Matt 23:1-3

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: (seat of authority)

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. (KJV)

 Dealing with the heart – what they are saying is correct, but what they are doing is incorrect

 If we take what Jesus said in verse 12 about exalting and humbling and apply it to the scribes and Pharisees here what can we conclude?

o To exalt oneself is to not submit oneself to the Word of God

o Important point – Submit to established authority (Moses’ seat) but don’t follow wrong men (contrast with Paul – follow me…)

President Reagan’s acceptance speech 1980:

We need rebirth of the American tradition of leadership at every level of government and in private life as well. The United States of America is unique in world history because it has a genius for leaders -- many leaders -- on many levels. But, back in 1976, Mr. Carter said, "Trust me." And a lot of people did. Now, many of those people are out of work. Many have seen their savings eaten away by inflation. Many others on fixed incomes, especially the elderly, have watched helplessly as the cruel tax of inflation wasted away their purchasing power. And, today, a great many who trusted Mr. Carter wonder if we can survive the Carter policies of national defense.

"Trust me" government asks that we concentrate our hopes and dreams on one man; that we trust him to do what’s best for us. My view of government places trust not in one person or one party, but in those values that transcend persons and parties.

 As Christians we have allowed the failures of man to cause us to walk away from the governments of Christ

o Result is that we exalt ourselves above that which God has put in place – free moral agent (only applies to sinners)

Humbling ourselves is bringing ourselves under the Word (it is a submission to God’s system)

Which is His Word for our personal lives and how we should live and His governments (structure)

That humbling or that submission will cause some very specific things to happen (point out how we exalt ourselves):

1. Cause us to assemble ourselves together

2. Cause us to speak to other people as a minister of reconciliation

3. It will cause us to bring to the Lord what is His – a tenth of our increase

4. It will cause us to start changing our manner of thinking (renewing the mind)

5. It will cause us to change the way we talk

List can be very long – point is humbling ourselves changes us – Judas did not humble himself