Humility Scripture Reading: Phillipians 2:1-11 - 1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of 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 selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better 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, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. RSV - Verse 3... One of the hardest verses in the Bible... not to understand... but to do. - Harder than the Royal Law... James 2:8... 8 If you really fulfil the royal law, according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbor as yourself, you do well. RSV - Love thy neighbor as thy self - that's hard - But here he says - Consider others better than yourself. - Can you imagine a world where that's a reality. - The question, as always, is how can we possibly do it? - I have two suggestions for us to consider: Verse 5 is a connecting sentence - KJV says - "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." - The example to follow is given in verses 6 to 8. 1
- 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, (other versions say - emptied himself) and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion a as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. KJV Consideration number two: (From a preacher story I heard) Dr. James Cail... Teaches at Oklahoma Christian College. - Quail Springs Congregation - Mission support for Norfolk, NE. - Psychologist type... giving a family seminar. - The seminar was very good. But what I remember most was his Sunday morning sermaon and the story about his Gramma. (Sermon title - "I wish you knew my Gramma.") - A large women. 5'9" and about 265 pounds. She lived in SW Oklahoma after being raised and educated in Tennessee. Lived in small towns. From 8 to about 250 people. Hicky towns and hicky churches. And he said them seemed to be proud of it. - His Gramma described his Grampa as a cocky little dude. He was about 5'2" and 110 pounds. A proud little bird. She had converted him. He became a strong Christian man, but according to Dr. Cail he didn't have the character, personality or strenght of his Gramma. - He told about her life at some length. She had a hard life. She was 88, stopped over and near death when he told this story. She was obviously a very positive influence on James. - He recalls looking at her Bible once and asking her about one thing he didn't understand. a fashion: or habit 2
- Many verses were marked with TP after them. - The explanation... Tried and prove. - Jeremiah tells us that it's not within us to guide our own steps. - Soloman had it all and did it all... but in the end he said "all is vanity" and concluded that the whole duty of man was to "Fear God and keep His commandments." Can we take some good advice? (Tried & proven) - Romans 12:15 & 16... 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; never be conceited. RSV - Pride is one of those things God hates. - Conceit - what do we have to be conceited about? - Philippians 2:3a... 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; KJV - Determine to take a timeout when we even see a hint of it. - Colossians 4:6... 6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. KJV - Speak the truth in love. - Point to the Book - that's the authority. - 1Peter 2:1-2... 1 So put away all malice and all guile and insincerity and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn babes, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation; RSV - Put away - that takes effort. - No one said this was easy. Things weren't easy for Jesus. 3
- 1Cor. 13:7... 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. RSV - Not nieve --- always looking for the good. - Colossians 3:17... 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. RSV Followed by: - Verses 18 to 21 talks about wives, husbands, children and their duties to one another. - Consider others better than yourselves. - Where better to start than at home. - Subjection - Love - Obeying - Not provoking - Galatians 6:1-3... 1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if any one thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. RSV - A spirit of gentleness - Bear one another's burden - Heb. 10:25... 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. RSV 4
- When he is nothing. - Servant. - And many more ----- but you get the idea, 5