Humility – lowliness of mind
Opposite of selfishness and empty conceit
Slide: Outward evidences of humility:
Regarding others as more important than self
Looking out for the interests of others
Obedient submission
Other characteristics seen with humility: peace, patience, gentleness, unity (See Eph. 4:26-31, Col. 3:8)
Slide: John 12:49 "For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment [as to] what to say and what to speak.
Slide: Matt. 26:44 And He left them again, and went away and prayed a third time, saying the same thing once more. 45 Then He came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Slide: “Opportunities” for submission in our lives:
To government – Rom. 13
To one another – Eph. 5:18-21
Wives to husbands – Eph. 5:22
Children to parents – Eph. 6:1
All to God – James 4:7
Slide: “For this reason also, God highly exalted Him…”
Humility (internal character)
Obedient submission (external application)
Slide: The Way Up is Down
Matt. 20:25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and [their] great men exercise authority over them. 26 "It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
Slide: The Way Up is Down
Matt. 23:11 "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Slide: The Way Up is Down
Prov. 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility [goes] before honor.
Slide: The Way Up is Down
Prov. 25:6 Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, And do not stand in the place of great men; 7 For it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, Whom your eyes have seen.
Slide: The prideful heart of man says:
They’re going to win
They’ll never change
I’ll never be happy
My needs will never be met
Someone else will do it.
Slide: So how do I humble myself?
Slide: James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. 11 Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge [of it.] 12 There is [only] one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
Slide: So how do I humble myself?
Submit to God (agree He is right)
Draw near to Him (personal devotion and corporate worship)
Repent
Stop speaking “against”
Yield to the true Judge
