Humility - Serve Like Jesus

Key Scripture

Philippians 2:2–11 NLT

2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Definition - Humility is the proper view of oneself

Absence of pride or arrogance

Humility is a s lowness in status, rank or economic means.

Humility has a modest self-perception.[1]

In the ot, Hebrew ענה (ʿnh) - “to crouch” or “to bend low to the ground”

describes one’s impoverished condition.

the verb עָנָה (ʿānâ) - being made low or humble by outside forces

The nouns עָנָו (ʿānāw, “bowed, afflicted, humble”) and עֲנָוָה (ʿănāwâ, “humility”) refer to humble or meek conditions.

עָנִי (ʿānî, “poor, afflicted, humble”) —spiritual, physical, and mental.

the Greek nt = modest, low, small

ταπείνωσις (tapeinōsis, “humiliation”).

The act of bowing low to the ground expresses submissiveness[2]

· Humility does beat itself up, nor boast of itself.

· Humility is not shame and feeling unworthy of love.

· Humility has No ceiling - between you and God, and No wall between you and man -

· offense, unforgiveness.

· Humility has no room for resentment- between husbands and wives that would hinder their prayers - or in any family relationship - including church

Measured

Measured by the knee and neck - how often do we bow them? Knee-ology

Where Does Humility Comes from? - Inside and Outside

Humility from the Inside - the EASY Way = DECISION

Humble yourself in the sight of the lord, and he will raise you up - James 4:10

Humility from the Outside - the EASY way = EDUCATION

Prov 12:15 listen to advice

Psalm 25:9 guide

Humility from the Outside - The HARD WAY = HUMILIATION

Joyce Meyer - humility comes by humiliation -

Example - An adult is “humbled” when “schooled” by a 5 yr old on how to operate your own smart phone.

Unteachable - Would not listen

Unreachable - school of hard knocks - fall on face - embarrassment - lose face - learned the hard way

Countries that refuse to yield to God will be humbled through failure

Nations are humbled through affliction - often for a punishment or persistent sin

Humility can come by unfavorable conditions - pandemic - economic crash, foreign attacks of all types (cyber)

Jesus was Humble

Jesus is the best example of someone who humbly followed God's plan for His life.

Philippians 2 describes Jesus’ path

Jesus CAME humbly - manger

Jesus SERVED humbly

Matthew 11:29 (NLT)

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.

When Jesus washed feet of His disciples, he took the ancient position of the lowest order of slaves.

Humility serves those who should be serving him.

Jesus RODE humbly - donkey - Zech 9:9

Zechariah 9:9 (NLT)

9 Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

Jesus DIED humbly

garden, - that’s how He could endure the mockery

Jesus ROSE in Power!

HOW do we walk in Humility? - Follow Jesus’ Example

· Humility is important for establishing a proper relationship with God, with others, and with oneself.

· How can we know that we are living in humility and ready to receive God's blessings?

Humility towards SELF

· Self-Effacement - self initiated - proactive - I choose to lower myself - Like Christ, I take the position of a servant

· SOBER self-assessment - Romans 12:3- think of yourself soberly

· SUITED - Colossians 3:12 clothed in humility

Humility Towards GOD

Walk humbly with your God - Micah 6:8

· SEEK God’s will - James 4:14

· SUBMIT - Matt 23:10-12 - follow Christ

· SERVE the Lord humbly - Acts 20:19

Humility Towards OTHERS

Husbands and wives - submit one to another

Younger submit to elder - subject to one another - 1 Peter 5:5

1 Peter 5:5 NLT

5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

We are to be humble toward each other - always

Ephesians 4:2 NLT

2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.

Photograph of Lowe’s sign

Humility looks out for the interest of others

Phil 2:3-4 ambition - who are you doing it for?

SUBDUE self -

· turn the cheek, wash the feet

· Prefer the other person

· Rather be wronged

The Answer for humility is to break the ice, which breaks the chain

Be a leader of love. Be mature. If not, the heart becomes hard and self-deceived.

Humility is its own Reward

There are many blessings for those who put others before themselves.

Crowned with Glory - Psalm 149:4

Grace - James 4:6-10, Luke 14:11

God HEARS and HEALS - 2 Chron 7:14 FIRST - you do the humbling, God does the hearing

WISDOM - Prov 11 2

Proverbs 11:2 (NLT)

2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

RICHES - Prov 22:4

Proverbs 22:4 (NLT)

4 True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.

HONOR - James 4:10

Jesus was exalted for His humility, and God will exalt you too

James 4:10 (NLT)

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

Warnings of Resisting (or refusing) Humility

Proverbs is filled with warnings of those who refuse to be humble.

Pride brings destruction

Power of pride - America insists on standing but refusing to bow- is the root of her downfall - because God is resisting us. Because we are assisting by submitting to the devil.

Proverbs 18:12 (NLT)

12 Haughtiness goes before destruction; humility precedes honor.

Without Humility, Glory is Vanity

Do not be conceited (vain - glory)

Romans 12:16 (NLT)

16 Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

False humility is duplicity and hypocrisy

· face disfigured when fasting

· After a great song, the singer says “it wasn’t me, it was God”

End time alert - Humility is a rarity

- pride and arrogance are rampant - time to sound the alarm!

2 Timothy 3:1–2 NLT

1 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.

A humble church can save a prideful world!

Stay true to God - Stay humble, your reward is coming!

Questions to Consider

Do you seek God’s will to the exclusion of your own?

How submitted are you to God’s will?

How often do you serve others?

How highly do you think of yourself?

When people look at you, do they see Christ?

[1]Gleaves, G. S. (2014). Humility. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press. [2]Gleaves, G. S. (2014). Humility. In D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Lexham Press.