The Two "I" 's Of Humility

Mark 9:35 Phil.2: 1 – 11 John 13: 1 – 17

Introduction

A church realized the importance of humility, so it formed a committee to find the most humble person in the church. Many names were submitted and numerous candidates evaluated. Finally, the committee came to a unanimous decision. They selected a quiet little man who always lived in the background and had never taken credit for anything he had done. They awarded him the "Most Humble" button for his faithful service. However, the next day they had to take it away from him because he pinned it on

Humility is a very difficult to topic to share.

If you come up to me and say, that I am a loving person, caring person, talented person, multi-faceted person – I would thank you and say you are so kind.

But if you come to me and say, that I am a humble person, I am not sure How to respond to it?

It is a hard thing to master. If I say I am humble, then am I humble? If I think I'm humble, am I? Or what if I say, "In my humble opinion, I'm not very humble," then what do I do? Humility is one of those elusive character qualities that, the moment you think you've achieved it, you run the risk of losing it altogether. Even Jesus’ disciples struggled with it. When Jesus learned that they had been arguing about who was the greatest, He responded, “If anyone desires to be first, he should be last of all and servant of all” (Mk. 9:35). Then He took a little child in His arms and indicated that we need to humbly serve others as if we were serving Christ.

Our example of humility is Jesus Christ, who took on the form of a servant, and lowered Himself to death on the cross for our sakes.

He that is down needs fear no fall,

He that is low, no pride:

He that is humble ever shall

Have God to be his guide.

Someone said, “I would love to be humble, but what if no one notices” – That’s exactly the point.

Gross: Someone said, “Humility is like underwear, essential but indecent if it shows”

Let’s look at what humility actually means

Various forms used, Tapenio, Tapenioo, Tapeniomai, and Tapeniophyrosyne

It is an inside-out virtue produced by comparing ourselves to the Lord (rather than to others). This brings behavior into alignment with this inner revelation to keep one from being self-exalting (self-determining, self-inflated).

For the believer, tapeinophrosýnē ("humility") means living in complete dependence on the Lord, i.e. with no reliance on self (the flesh).

Simply said, It means seeing others as higher than our self. The word (tapeinoo) literally means "to level a mountain or a hill." Humble people are those who have no hills sticking up. They are not filled up with the hot air of arrogance and pride.

So how do we cultivate or develop this Humility in our lives.

The Two I’s of Humility

1. Humility stems from our Identity in Christ

If we know who we are in Christ, being humble is inevitable

Our Example is Jesus Christ …

Let’s read John 13 again … v.3-5

What would happen, if everything was given to us … if we inherit the earth …?

The Knowledge that He came from God, and going back to God and that God gave him everything … made him humble.

Likewise, our identity of who we are in Christ, should lead us to be humble.

Many people believe that humility is the opposite of pride, when, in fact it is the point of equilibrium. The opposite of pride is actually a lack of self esteem. A humble person is totally different from a person who cannot recognize and appreciate himself as part of God’s plans.

That’s what Jesus showed us.

Our Identity of being sons and daughters of the Father, brings in us a sense of equilibrium, where we do not need to feel abased or despised and we also do not need to feel elated or bloated.

Tryon Edwards, “”True Humility is not an abject, self-despising Spirit; it is but a right estimate of ourselves as God sees us”

When we are filled with God, there is no place, for I

“He must increase, I must decrease”

Illustration:

A little frog wanted to go south for the winter. It was too far to hop and he did not have wings to fly. Two Little birds felt sorry for the little frog and together they came up with a plan. The little birds would hold each end of a stick in their beaks, and all the frog would have to do was to clamp down on the stick with his mouth and hold on.