Building Godly Character: Humility

Open you Bibles to the book of Matthew. In Jesus day their was a big problem that he faced and you know what it was, it was hypocrisy, pride. We have a bog problem today. In a day and age when the focus is on self esteem and pride, Jesus had a focus and that was Humility.

Jesus is in the business of building humble people.

Matthew 23:5–12 But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus desperately was looking for people with character no only did they have faith not only were they obedient but their attitude was humble. If by the end of today I haven’t given you a challenge to your convictions you are a better person than me and maybe you are but I think that these are things we desperately need. Remember Jesus was talking to the religious people.

The humble are Poor in Spirit.

Matthew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The word poor Here is someone who is financially destitute and they have no means of providing for themselves and they have to beg. They are people who are spiritually bankrupt. Heaven will be full of people who realize that they can not get to heaven on their own.

God is building heaven with humble repentant sinners.

Luke 18:13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!

Heaven is not earn we know that it is not based on baptism a christian family communion or even on the day that you made a decision or went forward at the end of church. It is about

Salvation is Jesus saving you from your sins.

Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

I am trying to take salvation off of you and putting it on Jesus. It is not something that you have done it is something that did. Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

The humble mourn for their sins.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.

I have always used this as the person who mourns for the loss of a loved one but careful study has educated me on this verse. I will still use it to help those believers who are mourning the loss of a loved one and don’t give up on this. Jesus has lots of help for all kinds of mourning. Those who are sad because of circumstances disasters and loss of a loved one but that isn’t what this means . This is the strongest feeling of heartfelt grief. It is inward agony about the fact that you are a sinner.

Godly mourning leads to true repentance.

2 Corinthians 7:10–11 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.

What Jesus is not talking about is the husband who gets sad when his wife catches him in a lie or cheating. It is not the woman who finally gets caught driving intoxicated. It is someone who truly realizes the gravity of their sin and seeks salvation.

Mourning for your sin leads to real forgiveness and change.

Psalm 32:1–2 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.

This mourning for your sins is not a one time thing and then you are good. This is a constant struggle I am telling you that the comfort from the freedom from sin will not truly be realized until you are in glory.

Humbly acknowledge your sin.

Romans 7:24–25 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

True comfort is eternity in heaven.

Revelation 21:4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.

I have always misunderstood this verse. It also has to do with the comfort that comes when your sins are washed away. Are you truly upset with the fact that you are a sinner. Does it cause you to weep from time to time or are you callous to your sins. Well I am better than that guy but you don’t really weep for your sins that sent Jesus to the cross we will finally be comforted in heaven.

The humble are meek.

Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.

That meed word means mild or soft. It is a soothing medicine like honey or a soft breeze. It is the wild horse that has been broken and can be used. It is an iron fist with a velvet glove.

Jesus came meekly to the cross.

Matthew 21:5 Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.

There is nothing weak about Jesus journey to the cross but it is humble.

Moses is an example of meekness.

Numbers 12:3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth.)

Jesus is the example of superior meekness.

1 Peter 2:21–24 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

The cross wasn’t weak. The cross was strength under ultimate control. You think the cross was weak, pffftt. He could have called ten thousand angels. In our society we talk about heros. Soldiers, police and fire fighters. and I give them all the credit that they deserve they have tough jobs. They get treated inappropriately for being brave in the face of adversity. BUT JESUS is my hero! He is the one that I want to emulate. I have said it before I am chicken, I admire martyrs for the name of Jesus Christ. Not those who blow themselves up to kill others so they can gain some virgins, but those who like Jesus humbly go to their death for the name of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the lost. WOW

Jesus wasn’t weak we remember when he flipped tables in the temple. This is God’s house, people want to get behind their hobby horse… .I have something that I will stand behind and that is the name of Jesus. You may sit their and say I come to church and all I hear about is Jesus. Let me ask you a question where else do you hear about the name of Jesus. on the news. no they don’t bring Jesus into work or politics this is a safe place to talk about Jesus. So we are going to talk about Jesus. If you don’t like to talk about Jesus I am sorry because for all of eternity His name and the gospel will never get old to me.

Christians walk in humility.

Ephesians 4:1–2 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

We walk like Christ. Humble it is a big part of our Christian Character.

Christians are humble to leadership.

Titus 3:1–2 Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

This is not the modern american way. You ever seen someone get pulled over and be offensive to law enforcement. What is your name and badge number officer I want to see your supervisor. That isn’t humble entitlement. People that put up defaming political signs, you might not like what I have to say but it is Bible. Show me Bible verses about being disrespectful to authority. Remember they stand before God on your behalf let God take care of those who mistreat you.

The humble will face persecution with bravery.

Matthew 5:11–12 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Trials teach us humility.

2 Corinthians 12:7–9 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Be humble like Christ.

Philippians 2:4–8 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

When Jesus went to the cross he put others first. This morning goes against everything the world teaches you. We learn your way right away. We live in a me first day. This isn’t what the Bible teaches. JESUS OTHERS and YOU! We need to live this. What have you done for someone else recently. Live for Christ. This is what taking up your cross daily and following him looks like. Jesus humbled himself for the spiritually bankrupt, we didn’t deserve him.

Humility is rewarded.

Philippians 2:9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

Matthew 18:1–4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 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. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

I want heaven, think back to the sermon on the mount. Who is heaven for? Those who are humble for Jesus. Who have realized that they are sinner, come to Him obediently in faith. Godly character leads to humility.