Our Theme Verse for 2015 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 1
Rainbow Forest Mission Statement Connecting the Disconnected to Christ, Community and the Call Our Purpose To glorify God in everything we say and do Connecting to the Call The Commands of Jesus Humble Yourself and Forgive Others Matthew 18:1-5; 20-22 2
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 3
The Great Commission and teach them to observe obey everything I commanded you The commands we have studied so far: Repent Follow Me Be Baptized Remember Me Lord s Supper Watch and Pray Let Your Light Shine Judge Not Pastor Mark Today Humble yourself and forgive others This command is the key to unity and community in the believer s fellowship. This is also the key to our witness to the world. Jesus said in John 13:35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. 4
In Matthew 16 we have the first direct mention of the church; in Matthew 18 we have the second. These two references form a pair. In chapter 16 we find the church in its universal aspect; in chapter 18 we find the church in its local aspect. The Lord reviewed the threefold function of a local church: the reception of believers (18:1-11) the restoration of backsliders (18:12-14) the reconciliation of brethren (18:15-35) Scripture refers to believers as children in the sense that we are incomplete, weak, dependent, undeveloped, unskilled, vulnerable, and immature. Matthew 18 focuses on those immature, unperfected, childlike qualities that believers demonstrate as they mutually develop into conformity to the fullness of the stature of Jesus Christ. The first lesson in this masterful sermon is that everyone who enters the kingdom does so as a child (vv. 1-4). Jesus then teaches that all of us in the kingdom must: be treated as children (vv. 5-9), cared for as children (vv. 10-14), disciplined as children (vv. 15-20), and forgiven as children (vv. 21-35) 5
The setting for the sermon is at Peter's house in Capernaum where the disciples have been discussing who is the greatest among them. Jesus has been discussing His coming suffering and death. Like all of us, the disciples needed repeated lessons in humility, and here Jesus used a child as His illustration. And He called a child to Himself and set him before them. Our Biggest Problem and Enemy Pride It is hard to sometimes to describe or define humility. We can see and sense it in a person You could see it in Jesus Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 6
But Pride is easily detected in others especially but rarely recognized in ourselves. Pride is the sin with a thousand lives. Pride the middle letter defines it best I Sin the middle letter is also I Pride is what got Lucifer kicked out of heaven Isaiah 14:12-17 12 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.' 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. 16 "Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, 17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?' 7
Ezekiel 28:12-19 12 "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created. 14 "You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you. 16 "By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones. 17 "Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you. 18 "You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you. 19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever." 8
Pride is what got Adam and Eve kicked out of the Garden of Eden Genesis 3:5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." The Bible gives numerous warnings about Pride! Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Proverbs 28:25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 9
Psalm 10:4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 2 Chronicles 32:25 & 26 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Isaiah 2:12 For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up and it shall be brought low; Obadiah 1:3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, Who will bring me down to the ground? Mark 7:21 & 22 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 10
1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life is not from the Father but is from the world. James 4:6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. The Opposite of Pride is Humility Submission to your known authorities.. Respect and honor to those over you Recognizing who you are Humility brings God s grace to deal with life s circumstances and challenges!!!! There are so many Biblical Examples Saul and his pride. Disobeyed David humbled himself and repented. 11
Jesus and His Humility Philippians 2:1-8 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 12
Second Command Today Forgive One Another Matthew 18: 20-22 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Peter is basically told not to keep count because real forgiveness does not keep records The Lord s Prayer ends with this teaching from Jesus. Matthew 6:14-15 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 13
Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. How do you humble yourself? Consider Jesus. Remember His humility His Submission to the Father Place yourself under authority Deal with pride the moment it arises in your heart Pray against the pride of your heart 14
How do you forgive others? Again, Consider and look to Jesus He forgave on the cross Father, forgive them You forgive the same way God forgave you For Christ sake!!!!! Then don t keep records. 15
Main Door to Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem Remember it was proud Peter Who said he would not deny the Lord Who seemed to be the first among the rest of the disciples Who now writes: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 16