Humility and Grace Luke 2:8-20
Luke 2:8-20 In the same region, shepherds were staying out in the fields and keeping watch at night over their flock. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
Luke 2:8-20 But the angel said to them, Don t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.
Luke 2:8-20 This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough. Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:
Luke 2:8-20 Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors! When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened,
Luke 2:8-20 which the Lord has made known to us. They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child,
Luke 2:8-20 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.
THREE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS 1. God is the perfect example of humility.
THREE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS 1. God is the perfect example of humility. 2. God s grace is for the humble.
THREE FUNDAMENTAL TRUTHS 1. God is the perfect example of humility. 2. God s grace is for the humble. 3. The humble will declare God s grace to the world.
1. GOD IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY
Revelation 1:4-8 John: To the seven churches in Asia. Grace and peace to you from the One who is, who was, and who is coming; from the seven spirits before His throne; and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
Revelation 1:4-8 To Him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by His blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father the glory and dominion are His forever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:4-8 Look! He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, including those who pierced Him. And all the families of the earth will mourn over Him. This is certain. Amen.
Revelation 1:4-8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, the One who is, who was, and who is coming, the Almighty.
CONSIDER WHO JESUS IS: Jesus is the eternal creator.
CONSIDER WHO JESUS IS: Jesus is the eternal creator. Jesus is the King of kings.
CONSIDER WHO JESUS IS: Jesus is the eternal creator. Jesus is the King of kings. Jesus is the Savior of the world.
CONSIDER WHO JESUS IS: Jesus is the eternal creator. Jesus is the King of kings. Jesus is the Savior of the world. Jesus is God Himself, the second member of the trinity.
CONSIDER WHO JESUS IS: Jesus is the eternal creator. Jesus is the King of kings. Jesus is the Savior of the world. Jesus is God Himself, the second member of the trinity. Pantokratōr almighty, all powerful, omnipotent
This baby born in Bethlehem was the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful, and all-glorious Son of God. What kind of welcome did he deserve? Jesus deserved to have every person from every nation come and worship him
He deserved to have every creature in the entire universe from the fiercest lion to the tiniest insect come to his cradle and give him praise. He deserved to have the creation itself offer him worship, with the rocks crying glory and the galaxies dancing for joy
He is God the Son, and anything less than absolute acknowledgement of his royal person is an insult to his divine dignity. But what kind of welcome did he receive? What accommodation was he given? Philip Graham Ryken
CONSIDER how jesus came: Born to poor, insignificant, teenage peasants. Born in a poor, insignificant town. Born in an animal shelter next to llamas and donkeys. His birth announcement was made to Shepherds.
The sign of His divinity was that He would be lying in a feeding trough.
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Why did god come this way?
We see here the grace and condescension of Christ. Had He come to save mankind with royal majesty surrounded by His Father s angels, it (still) would have been an act of undeserved mercy. Had He chosen to dwell in a palace, with power and great authority,
we (still) should have had reason enough to wonder. But to become poor as the very poorest of mankind, and lowly as the very lowliest this is a love that passeth knowledge. It is unspeakable and unsearchable. Never let us forget that through this humiliation Jesus has purchased for us a title to glory. J.C. Ryle
Why did god come this way? 1. God was demonstrating the humility required for our reconciliation.
Philippians 2:5-11 Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage. Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:5-11 And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name,
Philippians 2:5-11 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Humbled = tapeinoō to make low, bring low, or be ranked below another.
Why did god come this way? 2. Because of the brokenness and pride of men created by sin.
Almost nobody knew who Jesus was when He was born, even though He was the promised Messiah and King of the Universe.
John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was created through Him, yet the world did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him.
2. GOD S GRACE IS FOR THE HUMBLE
Luke 2:15-16 When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, Let s go straight to Bethlehem and see what has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.
Luke 2:15-16 They hurried off and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough.
James 4:6-7,10 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
THE PRACTICALS OF HUMILITY Put yourself under God.
THE PRACTICALS OF HUMILITY Put yourself under God. Believe God.
THE PRACTICALS OF HUMILITY Put yourself under God. Believe God. Obey God.
THE PRACTICALS OF HUMILITY Put yourself under God. Believe God. Obey God. Put yourself under others.
THE PRACTICALS OF HUMILITY Put yourself under God. Believe God. Obey God. Put yourself under others. Serve others Receive counsel and correction from others.
Proverbs 12:15 A fool s way is right in his own eyes, but whoever listens to counsel is wise.
3. THE HUMBLE WILL DECLARE GOD S GRACE TO THE WORLD
Luke 2:17-20 After seeing them, they reported the message they were told about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary was treasuring up all these things in her heart and meditating on them.
Luke 2:17-20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, just as they had been told.
Romans 10:14 And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher?
Application 1. Humble yourself like Jesus.
2 corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ: Though He was rich, for your sake He became poor, so that by His poverty you might become rich.
Application 2. Who are you humbly serving and loving that they might come to Christ or grow in Christ?