Renewing Your Maturity 1

Renewing Your Humility

(The childlikeness of the believer)

Text: Matthew 18:1-14

Introduction

There are several statements within this chapter that have become more preverbal than practised in it’s context.

This chapter is one great speech, one great doctrinal discourse.

For this chapter to come alive, it must be understood in it’s

This chapter stands on it’s own between

Life in the kingdom among God’s children.

First instruction to the church following chapter 16.

How to conduct ourselves as the church.

Before Jesus ever gives the great commission of what we must do, He gives them instruction on who they should become.

How you live, give a validation to your message.

Illustration: How many would think highly of your physician if you still appear to be sick?

The most important thing for the church is to BE THE CHURCH GOD WANTS US TO BE!

Question: Would you agree that whatever the Lord said FIRST to the church would take top priority?

This chapter presents something that demonstrates the power of God in our lives.

This chapter is the foundation to all other places within the New Testament discussing the treatment of one another.

The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Fifteen: The King’s Rebuke (Matthew 18)

Someone has accurately defined humility as “that grace that, when you know you have it, you’ve lost it!” It has well been said, “True humility is not thinking meanly of oneself; it is simply not thinking of oneself at all.”

Christians sometimes disguise their self-righteousness through their high moral standards.

Christians can be overtaken with this thoughts of “greatness” due to God’s blessings on them or what they have accomplished in the name of Christ.

Example: Peter had walked on water, on the mountaintop with Christ, and even had his taxes paid by means of a miracle.

It may have been an understanding that Peter would have the top spot due to his bold nature.

However, Jesus once called him Satan. Possibly the other guys thought the top spot is probably up for grabs.

Even though Christ had just shared with them His coming suffering and death, they remain thinking only of themselves. This led them to the point of arguing over who would be the greatest.

At the core of disunity lies a focus more upon self than others.

1) Humility Promotes Greatness

The disciples come to Jesus with a question speaking as men half-enlightened and full of carnal expectations.

They had ever present problems with this thought.

Jesus patiently responds with a well calculated answer.

Jesus’ answer was truth which rested at the very foundation of Christianity.

A. Without conversion, there is no salvation

John 3:7 “7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”

Humanity on it’s own has no desire to extend faith, fear, or love towards God.

Every one of us are completely unfit to dwell in the presence of God.

Heaven would not be much of a Heaven without conversion.

All of humanity becomes children of wrath.

That is where your Adamic nature takes you.

Romans 5:12 “12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”

James 1:21 “21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

“Kingdom of Heaven”

Synonymous with salvation.

B. Christ gives an example of greatness

This might be Peter’s house and maybe a child of the family.

Jesus points to a little child and picks him up.

An unspoiled child has the characteristics that make for humility.

Trust, dependence, wanting to make others happy, absence of boasting, no desire to be greater than others.

No accomplishments, no ability to chart their own course, no ability to provide, no ability to protect themselves, no merit, ignorant, nothing to offer, etc…

Jesus is showcasing the humility of the child as well as every believer is a “child” of God regardless what physical age he/she is.

Never see little children as an obstacle.

Always seek to minister to all of God’s children.

True humility thinks of others above one’s self.

Matthew 11:29 “29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Galatians 6:1 “1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

Ephesians 4:2 “2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”

C. Christ give a warning to those who offend any child

There are four attitudes you can have toward children:

Become like them; humble.

Receive them.

Cause them to stumble.

Despise them.

God places a HIGH VALUE upon every one of His children!!!

“In my name…receives Me.”

They bear MY NAME.

Embrace them with kindness.

Illustration: You can’t miss-treat my children without mistreating me.

God says that His people are the “pupil” of His eye.

To mis-treat any one of His people is like jabbing God in the eye!

What did Jesus say to Saul on the Damascus road?

“Saul, why are you persecuting ME?”

Galatians 2:20 “20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

1 Corinthians 6:17 “17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.”

2) Humility Removes Offense

Protect one another like children!

This is concerning SPIRITUAL CHILDREN.

“whoso” gives us the understanding that everyone is capable of committing this terrible spiritual act.

“shall” speaks to the fact that offence is going to present itself to believers.

Pray against the power of offenses!

Be the kind of fellow Christian who helps strengthen others in preparation of future offenses.

“offend” = to cause to sin ⇔ trip v. — to cause someone to sin, often with an idea of finality or falling away; conceived of as causing someone to stumble and fall.

Making them disgusted with true religion.

How is this done?

Directly — persecuting, ridiculing, opposing, pushing them away from service, leading them to cheat, leading your spouse to lying on a tax document.

Indirectly — Inconsistent living with your profession, an distasteful attitude, your conduct (speech, where you go, what you watch, social media posts, treatment of your spouse and children, provoke someone to anger, pushing the hot button, closing up your compassion, shurking a loving spirit toward them.

Failing to lead other to righteousness — Failing to set a right path.

Paul said, “I will remove meat or drink that may cause my brother to stumble.”

Not flaunting your liberty given to you from Christ.

Not all things are helpful.

Quote: “He is, in short, a living sermon on behalf of the devil.” (J.C. Ryle)

Example: Ananias and Sapphira

You may not be doing harm, but are really doing anything good?

You are who you are at HOME! IT BEGINS THERE!

3) Humility Demands Examination

We expect offenses to come from the world.

We DON’T expect offenses to come from God’s kingdom.

A. There is a cost to being humble

Jesus is speaking in hyperbole — exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Only the humble will yield themselves as a stepping stone instead of being a stumbling stone.

DEAL DRAMATICALLY WITH SIN.

Spiritual Resolution — Anything that makes me and those around me stumble MUST BE REMOVED from my life.

Jesus is instructing us to perform “spiritual surgery.”

Who does the humble person live for?

Jesus first, others second, themselves last.

Philippians 2:1–4 “1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, 2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”

B. Provide the protection they need

Discipline is a lacking thing in the home.

Not a venting of your anger, but an instructive and beneficial kind of discipline.

How children think and what they are exposed to.

4) Humility Elevates Value

Not talking about babies!

You don’t value them based on how they stack up to how you dress or your current standards.

“Their angels”

God can dispatch His angels at any time to help His children.

Helpful or disciplinary!

Jesus uses the scenario of a straying sheep to teach how God desires every child to become a child of His.

“Perish” = to perish (spiritually) v. — to be or become without spiritual life under the condemnation of God.

I love the picture of Jesus running and searching to bring a single sheep to His pasture!

Turn to: Matthew 9:35–38 “35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”