Introduction: Pride (con t)

Transcription

1 Humility and Gratitude Part 1 Lesson #8 In the Steps of Christ

2 Introduction: Pride There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride, and yet there is no more vice which is more frequently, more emphatically, and more eloquently condemned in Scripture. Pride is a thing which should be unnatural to us, for we have nothing to be proud of. In almost every other sin, we gather us ashes when the fire is gone. But here, what is left? The covetous man has his shining gold, but what does the proud man have? He has less than he would have had without pride, and is no gainer whatever. Pride wins no crown. crown. Charles Spurgeon 2

3 Introduction: Pride (con t) Pride and arrogance are the way of evil (Prov. 8:13) Pride leads to destruction (Prov. 16:18, 29:23) Pride is sin (Prov. 21:4) Pride defiles a man (Mark 7:20-23) God hates pride (Prov. 6:16-19) 3

4 Lesson Outline 1. Humility: A believer must have a rightful view of himself/herself and of God 2. Gratitude: A believer must be thankful to God in and for all things 3. The two ordinances: Water baptism and the Lord s Supper are ways of demonstrating humility and gratitude 4

5 Outline Humility 1. What is humility? 2. The call to humility 3. The perfect model of humility 4. Blessings of humility 5. Examples/Characteristics of humility 5

6 What is Humility? Humility is a freedom from arrogance that grows out of a recognition that all we have and are comes from God. R.F.Youngblood, F.F. Bruce, R.K. Harrison, Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary It is a recognition that we possess nothing and can do nothing that would commend us to God Thus, it is a true acknowledgement of our deep spiritual poverty and utter dependence upon God. Humility motivates believers to focus on God and others more than self. 6

7 The Call to Humility We are called to walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8) We are called to count others as more important than ourselves (Phil. 2:32:3-4) We are called to serve and not to strive for positions of importance (Matt. 20:2620:26-28) We must walk humbly in order to walk in a manner worthy of the high calling with which we have been called (Eph. 4:14:1-2) 7

8 The Perfect Model of Humility Christ is by nature God (See, (See, e.g., e.g., Col. 1:151:1520) Despite being God, Christ in his incarnation became our model of humility We are called to have the attitude of Christ (Phil. 2:52:5-11) Christ did not cling to his rightful position He made himself nothing and took the form of a servant He suffered the most ignoble of deaths in submission to the Father s will 8

9 Blessings of Humility The humble are blessed with the favor of God (Is. 66:2) The humble inherit the Kingdom of God (Matt. 5:3) The humble will enjoy God s presence (Is. 57:15) The humble are blessed with God s grace (James 4:6) God will exalt those who humble themselves before Him (Luke 14:11; James 4:10) The rewards of the humble are riches and honor and life (Prov. 22:4, 29:23) 9

10 Examples/Characteristics of Humility The humble: Recognize God s holiness and their own sinfulness (Is. 6:5) Seek the glory of Christ rather than honor for themselves (Matt. 3:14; John 3:273:27-30) Recognize that everything comes from God (1 Chron. 29:14) Recognize their need for grace and praise the Lord for it (Ps. 51:1551:15-17) Mourn over sin (Joshua 7:6) As our example, Christ: Came to serve rather than be served (Mk. 10:45) Washed the disciples feet (John 13:313:3-17) 10

11 Any Room for Boasting? Paul admonishes us that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (Rom. 12:3) However, this is not an invitation to a false humility or insincere self-deprecation. (See 2 Cor. 10:13-12:21; Phil. 3:4-11) Godly humility recognizes that all our accomplishments, great or small, are the product of God s gifting and grace. (Lk. 17:10) Thus, we must boast only in the Lord. (2 Cor. 10:17) 11

12 True Humility Produces Gratitude Biblical humility is also a recognition that by ourselves we are inadequate, without dignity and worthless. Yet, because we are created in God s image and because believers are in Christ, we have infinite worth and dignity. True humility does not produce pride but gratitude. R.F.Youngblood, F.F. Bruce, R.K. Harrison, Nelson s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary 12

13 Group Discussion 1. It has been said that humility before God is the first and most essential of all virtues. Do you agree, and if so, in what ways is this true? 2. How can we pursue humility? 3. Pride/lack of humility is so prevalent among us that we often cannot recognize it in our own lives. In what ways do we fail to see ourselves in a proper, biblical light, and thus fail to exhibit biblical humility? 13