Approaching With Humility (2)

Humble Hearts, Changed Lives

Bible Passage: Joel 2:23–32, Luke 18:9–14

Summary: Both passages illustrate the transformative power of approaching God with humility, highlighting the promise of restoration and grace when we recognize our need for Him.

Application: This sermon encourages believers to assess their hearts and approach God with humility, leading to personal transformation and restoration in their lives. It reassures them that no matter their current situation, God's grace is available to those who humble themselves before Him.

Teaching: The teaching focuses on the importance of humility in our relationship with God. It outlines how true humility leads to repentance and reception of God's grace, and it encourages believers to seek a heart posture that acknowledges their need for divine intervention.

How this passage could point to Christ: Christ embodies the ultimate humility as seen in His life and sacrifice. He invites us to come to Him with our shortcomings, assuring us of grace and restoration. His humility sets the standard for how we should approach God—acknowledging our need for His mercy.

Big Idea: When we approach God with humility, we unlock the grace needed for true transformation and renewal of our lives.

Recommended Study: In preparing this sermon, consider exploring the cultural context of Joel's call for repentance and the implications of his promises of restoration, which might benefit from textual comparisons in Logos. Additionally, examine the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in Luke to uncover the nuances of humility versus self-righteousness, paying attention to Greek word studies that detail the themes of humility in biblical texts.

1. Rejoicing in Restoration

Joel 2:23-27

Joel's call for repentance is rooted in the immediate, devastating context of a locust plague, which he frames as a sign of God's judgment for a people who had become spiritually apathetic and focused on empty rituals. The cultural context involved a society that was performing religious acts like fasting and mourning externally, but their hearts were far from God. Joel's message emphasized a genuine, internal "heart-repentance" and called for all segments of society, from elders to farmers, to acknowledge their sin and return to God with their whole hearts. 

Joel reframes the terrible “Day of the Lord” from a time of domination of other nations to a time of judgment of Israel’s own sin. He warned that this judgment was coming, and humble repentance is the only way to prepare. 

There is a tangible link between humility and God's provision:

True humility opens the door to receiving God’s abundant grace, which leads to tangible blessings like renewal and restoration, mirroring the restoration God promises to Israel.

God promises to "repay you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten".

This shows God’s willingness to forgive and renew those who turn to Him with a humble heart.

There is ambiguity and some theological depth in translating "early rain for your vindication". Scholars argue whether the original Hebrew means "rains in righteousness" or "teacher of righteousness."

The context strongly supports the literal meaning of rain, but the wordplay points toward an eschatological prophet or messianic hope.

This ambiguity links the physical restoration (rain, harvest) to spiritual restoration (guidance, righteousness).

Divine Vindication is highlighted here: The promise that the “children of Zion” will eat in plenty, be satisfied, and "my people shall never again be put to shame".

2. Promise of Presence

Joel 2:28-32

This raining down/pouring out with result in a plentiful/fulfilling harvest.

Inclusive Grace: The Spirit being "poured out on all flesh" symbolizes God’s inclusive grace, which is freely available to all who seek Him humbly.

Divine Transformation Empowered by Humility: This outpouring of God's Spirit presence—where sons and daughters prophesy, old men dream dreams, and young men see visions—is the core message of hope and transformation, empowering hearts and lives when humility is embraced.

New Testament Fulfillment: There is an explicit connection with Joel 2 to the New Testament fulfillment in Acts 2:14-18, where Peter refers to Joel's prophecy to explain the Spirit being poured out beginning at Pentecost.

Defining Deliverance: "Whosoever shall call" upon the name of the Lord shall be saved/healed/delivered, which applies both to temporal and eternal suffering.

3. Pharisee's False Pride

Luke 18:9-12

Identify the Audience: Jesus directed this parable to those "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt". The sin of self-righteousness.

Deconstructing the Prayer: The Pharisee's prayer as essentially a self-eulogy with "no petition."

He felt he didn't need God.

He thanked God primarily that he was "not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector".

His Achievements and Arrogance: The specific actions he boasted about:

Fasting twice a week (more than required).

Tithing everything he possessed (more than the law demanded).

He was boasting of works (doing more than God required).

This arrogance blinded him to his need for God’s grace.

Praying with false humility. (when prayer is not at all effective toward blessing; it is in fact a condemning those “not like” himself)

4. Sinner's Sincere Plea

Luke 18:13-14

The tax collector's humble plea for mercy; approaching God with a sincere heart.

Jesus declares him justified because of his humility.

God exalts those who humble themselves before Him, echoing Christ's own life and sacrifice.

Daily Humility:

There is no room for boasting; boasting should only be in the Lord, who exalts the meek/humble.

We need a daily dose of humility.

Like the tax collector, we daily need to pray, "Forgive us our sins" (Luke 11:4).

Provide practical steps where humility can be applied relationally:

Focus on Service and Others' Needs: Humility can be transformative in stressful environments (like family gatherings) by preparing your heart to serve others.

This means setting aside personal preferences and asking how you can help.

Practice Recognition and Appreciation: Encourage the audience to write down qualities they admire in others and verbally recognize these qualities during the gathering.

This humble recognition fosters an atmosphere of love and grace, allowing God to renew relationships and create lasting memories.