Humility in the Gospel
Notes
Transcript
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Second Message in the sermon series Humbly Before God.
Our humility in the Gospel.
Having an understanding of the Gospel brings true humility (quote)
There is a right self awareness in humility.
"If you are humble, nothing will touch you, neither praise nor disgrace, because you know what you are." - Mother Teresa
Explain this…
This is what the Gospel does to us, it should give us a sense of awareness:
We were sinners
We were hopeless and desperate
We were undeserving
We were saved by grace through faith alone
This is key to relationships.. because of this right self awareness we are more THANKFUL and FORGIVING
Humility is not something we can muster into ourselves.. (I have to be humble.. repeating) We have to be people of the Gospel.
Study on the humility of the Apostle Paul.
Humility in the Gospel is seen in the…
Humility through the grace of God and the message of the Gospel.
2. Humility in recognizing the grandeur of God’s Salvation plan.
3. Humility in our utter dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Humility in the Gospel is seen in the…
Humility through the grace of God and the message of the Gospel.
8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
The more grace has been received by someone, the more humble he becomes.
“Less than the least of all the saints”
In another epistle, he called himself the least of the apostles.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
In another epistle he called himself the chief of sinners.
“Saul” versus “Paul” (little)
He knew he was such a sinner and insignificant compared to a perfect and holy God and yet, he was so humbled to be even noticed by God and saved by Him.
“Understanding the deep truths of God’s Word does not give a man a big head; it gives him a broken and contrite heart” (Warren W. Wiersbe)
That is the gospel — we have nothing to show for before God.
Prosperity Gospel, peddling wealth and success
But real riches are found in the gospel.
“… and to preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
Humility in the Gospel is seen in the…
2. Humility in recognizing the grandeur of God’s Salvation plan.
9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,
The mystery - that Jew and Gentile will form one body
The cross united Jew and Gentile - before the cross, the Old Testament taught that the Gentiles will be saved through Israel..
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
The manifold wisdom of God - Multicolored, even the angels are amazed by the wisdom of God as revealed in the Gospel of Jesus Christ
We the church are educating angels..
12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
We have been entrusted something grand, the gospel - WE ARE STEWARDS OF THE GREAT MYSTERY
For a church to be effective we have to be good stewards of the mystery of the Gospel and rightly divide the word of truth.
The church - privileged to be a part of it
Not by our education
“That I may know Him”
11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord,
Humility in the Gospel is seen in the…
3. Humility in our utter dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ.
12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
verse 12 - our boldness comes from the Lord (in prayer and in preaching the Gospel)
Perseverance.
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Paul, a spirit-filled man, who obeyed the Lord is suffering in prison — There is no entitlement in the middle of tribulation
There are no superstar apostles or pastors or preachers, only the Lord Jesus Christ deserves the glory.
Story of outdated map
The church is not limited by culture, Jewish cliques, American, German or Filipino or class, ethnicity or any physical distinction
The church is a spiritual entity under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ operating in the power of the Holy Spirit.
