IDC Council July 2015 AFC Humble Hearts. Illinois District Council July 2015 Session. Humble Your Heart

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1 Illinois District Council July 2015 Session Humble Your Heart Instructors: District Elder Marvin Bembry & Elder Doyle Smith HUMBLE YOUR HEART Housekeeping Course schedule / Break Bathrooms Sign In sheet / Registration Group Work Expectations of this class Define Humility 1

2 Course Objectives By the end of this session you will be able to: Define and articulate the importance of humility in a servant leader s life Grasp the connection between humility and service Understand how humility is produced Discuss patience and the waiting process Understand the application of the 1 st principle of a servant leader i.e is to be committed to follow Jesus INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP ACTIVITY: WORD ASSOCIATION H or P? Aggressive Arrogant Egotist Hifalutin Inferior Mortify Self-Important Submissive Subservient Superior Unpretentious Waiter/Servant Humble Pride 2

3 Humble DEFINED Insignificant; inferior; submissive: to feel humble in the presence of someone great To lower in condition or status, importance, or dignity: abase; mortify To make meek: to humble one s heart. How were Moses, Joseph, David, Paul and Joseph similar in demonstrating a humble heart? Moses was called the meekest man. Why? How? 3

4 Humility DEFINED Easton s 1897 Bible Dictionary definition: A prominent Christian grace. It is a state of mind well pleasing to God; It preserves the soul in tranquility and makes us patient under trials. Correlation of Humility and Servitude Humility Attributes Servant Relation A prominent Christian grace Benefits and favors others Serves! A state of mind well pleasing to God Preserves the soul in tranquility and makes us patient under trials This is my Son in whom I am well pleased No one can do it but God therefore I stand my ground; wait/endure (hupomenó) Waiting on God to exalt Recognizes the hopelessness of self; Dependency on the allsufficiency of God! God is the Supernatural source from whence comes the ability to serve others 4

5 Service Humility Service is a spiritual discipline Serving others is essential for the learning and growth of humility Both beget the other Genuine service (an act initiated for the benefit of another hidden from an audience) will always lead to humility Making your way to the head of the table takes your focus off of who you should be serving Luke 14:8 The Lord Causes & Expects Humility Life is not sustained by bread alone, but by God s word Deuteronomy 8:2-3 The Lord led you into the wilderness: To humble you Tested you to know what was in your heart Humbled you and allowed you to hunger Fed you with manna Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD Humility grows by the stripping away of self-sufficiency. Deut 8: 2-3, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalms 25:9, Psalms 55:19, 1 Peter 5:5 5

6 Jesus our Example The King humble and mounted on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9 ) Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The Son of Man came to serve and to give his life as a ransom (Mark 10:45) For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. -- Humbled himself by becoming obedient to death, yet was God in flesh (Philippians 2:5-8 ) Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. A Commitment to Follow Jesus! Humility is learned by following Jesus - The Way Up is Down If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it (Mt 16:24-25) Competitive ambition does not fit the profile of following Jesus He humbled himself and became obedient to be a ransom and redeemer for all The Servant is not greater than his Master (Jn 13:16) 6

7 Examples of Humility Abraham. Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes Genesis 18:27 John the Baptist. After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. Mark 1:7 Results of Humility Psalms 149: 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation. Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. 7

8 Humility is. GAINED and PRACTICED as we grow in wisdom and grace. They that wait on the Lord.. Quiet Waiting Reflective Listening Expectant Waiting Active Looking 8

9 Group Exercise What are the possibilities of the IDC, if leaders further armed themselves with humility? What would change? What are the possibilities for your Church if leaders further arm themselves with humility? What would change? What are the possibilities of our home/family if we further armed ourselves with humility? What would change? With principles learned here, how can you better serve others? SUMMARIZE KEY POINTS. Following Christ requires humility. What does God require of thee but that you walk humbly before him and do what is right? Humility is accomplished by the hand of God Service produces humility and vice versa Humility is gained and practice as we grow in grace and wisdom 9

10 CONCLUSION LET S PRAY. Psalms 51: 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Application: INSTRUCTORS: DISTRICT ELDER MARVIN BEMBRY & ELDER DOYLE SMITH 10

11 APPLICATION SESSION OUTLINE Review Key Concepts Individual Review Small Group Discussion Video Plan KEY CONCEPTS Following Christ requires humility. What does God require of thee but that you walk humbly before him and do what is right? Humility is accomplished by the hand of God Service produces humility and vice versa Humility is gained and practiced as we grow in grace and wisdom 11

12 INDIVIDUAL REVIEW Review definitions of humble and humility Pick one Bible character from the list below that speaks to you on this topic. Why? Moses, Joseph, David, Paul, Jesus Describe what fully embracing humility looks like in your life. GROUP WORK Purpose: Directions: Goal: To create an accountable plan for your spiritual development. Work Plan Template-Humble your Heart Using this form as a template, develop a work plan for each goal identified through prayer and reflection. Make it specific, measurable, attainable and time oriented. Example By the end of 2015, I will prioritize the acquisition of this trait through the creation of an accountable, prayerful, action oriented plan. Action Steps What Will Be Done? Responsibilities Who Will Do It? Timeline By When? (Day/Month) Resources A. Resources Available B. Resources Needed (financial, human, political & other) Potential Barriers A. How will you deal with fleshly objections? Feedback plan Who is involved? What methods? How often? Step 1: Will read and study the book and purchase the study work book. I will Within 3 days, I will order the study work book. Step 2: A. A. I will set aside 15 minutes a day to read and reflect on this subject B. Need to identify a trusted person who is willing to help me on this journey by providing feedback A. I will fast and pray as I recognize the impulse of the flesh to object to growth A. I will ask a trusted elder or my spouse or pastor for feedback on a monthly basis. B. Step 3: A. A. B. 12

13 CONCLUSION Questions? Prayer 13