Luke 14:1-11 (read from the Bible and have 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.
1 Corinthians 13:6 NIV
“Love rejoices in the truth”
2 Corinthians 4:5 NLT
“You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves. We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
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4. Humility knows it is dependent on grace for all knowing and believing.
Here we run into that amazing gift called Grace once again. Grace is defined as unmerited favor. We have done and can do nothing to earn or deserve the favor of God. Period! But in grace God extends His favor to us.
How does that favor work out?
God’s grace calls us to salvation. God’s grace enables us to say “Yes” to His saving grace. God’s grace sustains us in faith and helps us to grow in our faith.
And, God’s grace enables us to understand the truths of God found in the Bible.
You could have the entire Bible memorized but unless you yield to God’s saving grace it will do you no good.
1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT
“For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?”
James 1:21b NLT
“Humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.”
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5. Humility knows it is fallible, and so considers criticism and learns from it. But humility also knows that God has made provision for human conviction and that He calls us to persuade others.
If you think you are infallible then you are not humble but prideful and not teachable because you think you already know it all.
The humble person listens to criticism. Criticism can come in a gentle manner or it can come as a personal attack or anywhere in between. How do you receive criticism?
Have you been falsely criticized? Take it to the Lord.
Have you been rightly criticized? Take it to the Lord.
Rightly or wrongly criticized the Lord will let you know if you come to Him with a humble heart.
1 Corinthians 13:12 NIV
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
Proverbs 12:15b ESV
“A wise man listens to advice.”
When we speak as a witness for the Lord with a humble spirit He can use us. He can use us not because of our abilities but because in humility we allow God’s grace to flow through us.
2 Corinthians 5:11b NLT
“Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others.”
Isaiah 57:15 NLT
“The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: ‘I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.’”
The five points above that help us define humility according to the Word of God were outlined by John Piper in 1999. Here is an announcement that Pastor Piper made in 2010 in an effort to bring his life back into perspective regarding humility.
March 29, 2010
Well-known evangelical preacher John Piper announced Sunday that he will be taking his first-ever break from ministry to reexamine his soul.
The long-time preacher apologized to his congregation for not a specific deed but for the "sins of my own soul," "ongoing character flaws" and stresses that they have caused to others.
"I see several species of pride," Piper told Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. "They may not rise to the level of disqualifying me for ministry. Nevertheless, while I don't think they do, I grieve over them."
Piper, who is considered one of the most influential preachers among Protestant pastors, made the announcement after preaching about Jesus Christ and the cross He bore. It was the first of four final sermons before his eight-month leave from the church and ministry.
In the 30 years he has been preaching, Piper said he has never let go of his passion for public productivity – ever. That is, until now.
"In this moment (the leave of absence), I'm letting go of all of it," he said.
That means no preaching, no book writing, no blogging, no tweeting, no articles, no papers and no speaking engagements – with a few exceptions that his wife, Noel, agreed to.
"One of the goals of fasting," he noted, "is to determine levels of addiction or, as Paul Tripp of Tim Keller would say, levels of idolatry."
"The reality check is what will happen to John Piper's soul ... and to my marriage ... and to my future ... when there will be no prideful sipping from the poisonous cup of international fame and notoriety," the 64-year-old preacher said. "I need to find that out and I don't know any other way to do it."
"I just want to preach so bad I can hardly stand it," he admitted. "I love what I do."
The break from ministry will also serve as a period for him to work on his marriage to his wife of 41 years.
The couple is "rock solid" in commitment to each other, he stressed, and there is "no whiff of unfaithfulness on either side." However, Piper said the term "rock solid" is not always an emotionally satisfying metaphor.
"The precious garden of my home needs tending," he told his congregation.
Though future plans are not certain, Piper said he hopes to return after the leave of absence to preach for at least five more years.
"My prayer and my high expectation is that these months will be a launching for a humble, happy, fruitful five years – I believe the best five years of 35 years and the best five married years of 46," he said.
Closing comments
