Humility
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14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Review:
Review:
Review:
Review:
Theology-Study of God
Reconciliation-Ministry of Reconciliation
Unity-Unity in the body
Transformation-This is a HS work
Humility- Dependent on God
Introduction:
Introduction:
Stand up and Read
34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Explain context of this Parable
Definition of Humble— “Lowly”---This is has nothing to do with your actual external situation. It has more to do with your heart condition. Meaning a person could be poor as dirt(looking humble) and yet be proud and arrogant. Conversely a person could be well-off, and yet be humble & meek.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon said it best “Humility is to make a right estimate of oneself. It is no humility for a man to think less of himself than he ought.”
Charles Spurgeon
True Biblical Humility-Is to recognize where your abilities stop and God’s began. It is to recognize that Man is made in the image of God, and worthy of honor. Man is blessed with wonderful abilities and talents capable of great accomplishment, but at the same time man is finite and contingent. Totally dependent on God for mental acuity, physical strength, and emotional stability. Even at our best we could do nothing of any value without the Lord.
-Prayer is one of the Spiritual disciplines that manifest an attitude of Dependance on God. Prayer says “I need you Lord” I cannot do it on my own.
-Notice the humblest person to ever walk the earth. Every reason to be proud, and yet he walked in humility:
23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
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35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.
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46 After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray.
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21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus was also baptized, and while He was praying, heaven was opened,
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16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
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12 It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.
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7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.
hebrews
What pattern do you see from our Lord in his prayer life?
-Endowed with power, strength and authority. He was God in human flesh, he could walk on water, heal the sick, exorcise demons, and raise the dead, yet he would:
16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.
(v.16) He would “often” slip away and get alone with Lord. He needed his time. Don’t forget in his humanity he was absolutely dependent on his Father.
4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
What kind of attitude or mind does Paul tell us to have?
3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
(v.3
(v.3) Always have pure motives when you serve. Humility is to see the needs of others as more important than yourself.
Jesus tells a parable in That helps us to see what kind of attitude really pleases him:
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
I. The Pharisees Prayer Attitude
I. The Pharisees Prayer Attitude
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
(v.9) In this Parable Luke tell’s us what Jesus’s intent was in telling this story:
Luke 18:
-There were some people in his audience “who trusted in themselves, that they were righteous”
What does it mean to trust in yourself?
-This is to live a life believing, that in yourself is the solution to all of life’s questions and difficulties. God is not central in this person life. God is an afterthought. Jesus is telling this parable to a whole bunch of religious folks, so don’t make the mistake of thinking I am talking about people from the world.
-They also had another problem “and viewed others with contempt” Contempt-To treat with scorn, or despise. They treated them as if they were beneath them.
(v.10) “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a Tax Collector” Interpreting Parables involves us identifying the participants of the parable.
a. Pharisee-Those who were the religious leaders(preachers) these men were meticulous(every detail) followers of the law of God.
b. Tax Collectors-These were those that collected taxes for the Roman Government. They collected taxes for Rome from their own people. They were despised, considered unclean, and filthy rich off the backs of their own people.
-Both went up to the Temple to pray. Both recognize the need to pray. Prayer by it’s very nature implies that “I need God” but we have to be careful, not all people pray with the right motives.
(v.10-11) Both men went up to pray: Folks prayed corporately at two separate times 9:00am or 3:00pm and they could go up and just pray at any times, but the 9 & 3p times seemed to be corporate prayer times.
(v.11) “The Pharisees stood and was praying this to himself” NASB The best rendering of this phrase is found in the NIV “11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed” Rather than stand on the midst of broken people he went to the front and stood away from the group to pray.
II. The Publicans Prayer Attitude
II. The Publicans Prayer Attitude
11 The Pharisee stood by himselfp and prayed
Luke 18:
p ;
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .
(v.11) Now listen to the Pharisees prayer: “God I thank you that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector”
-The Pharisees even gave “thanks” to God.
What did he thank God for?
-He thanked God by listing those people who he was glad that he was not like. Swindlers(Thieves), unjust(unrighteous), Adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
-(v.11) Notice Luke grammar:
-The central focus of the Pharisees prayer was himself, and his accomplishments. The one thing that is also lacking in his prayer is a petition. Not once did he ask God for anything.
-A petition(request) implies that there is something in my life that I cannot supply or do on my own. Lord I need your strength, Lord I need your hand of mercy, Lord I need your forgiveness, Lord I need some provision, Lord I need wisdom because I cannot navigate this life on my own.
-Lord I am unable to lead your sheep in this church. I do not have the wisdom, knowledge or strength to carry this load. Please help me........This man did not make one petition to the Lord. Then in (v.12) he goes over his resume
(v.12) “I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get” The Jewish law did not require fasting. And the Jewish law only required the tithe on earnings. This man tithe on things that he got as gift. This once again is middle finger to God. This says God your law that you gave Moses was insufficient, so I have added places of obedience that I can accomplish. You see this man’s pride/arrogance was growing because of his ability to live this outwardly clean life. Can you imagine the pride that must come from believing that you have keep all of God’s 611 OT laws, so that you even needed to add more to up the challenge.
-This was a man never confessed any of his sins, or transgression. Even David while praying said “reveal to me my secret faults” David inspected his life and saw no known sin, so he asked God to reveal things in his life the might be sin that he was unaware of. This is the prayer of a humble man.
-This Pharisees was obediently praying, but he was doing with a heart of arrogance and pride.
How do I know if I am arrogant and prideful?
-Primary way-If you never deal with any of your sins, by naming them out specifically.
George Gordon Liddy, Watergate conspirator recently released from prison: "I have found within myself all I need and all I ever shall need. I am a man of great faith, but my faith is in George Gordon Liddy. I have never failed me."
The Christian Century, Sept. 28, 1977, p. 836.
Application
The heart attitude when you pray is more important than the act of praying
The primary focus of prayer is not you, it is on the object of your prayer
Let’s take a look at the Publican(Tax Collector)
II. The Publicans Prayer Attitude
II. The Publicans Prayer Attitude
13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(v.13) “But the tax collector, standing some distance away” The tax collector didn’t feel worthy to be near the front of the sanctuary. He stayed away from those who were considered to be the pious, and holy. He didn’t have to sit at the head table. He wasn’t the deacon that always needed to pray in front of the church. He wasn’t the preacher who always needed to speak a word because the crowd was big. This man went into a quiet corner just to speak a word to the Lord.
(v.13) “he was unwilling to lift up his eye to heaven” This man was aware of God’s greatness and his own smallness. he refused to even want to look up to heaven. This is man who understand his sins. He understood the first lines to the Lord’s prayer.
9 “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
matthew 5:
(v.9) “Our Father who is in heaven Hallowed be Your name” The first part of the Lord’s prayer exalts God’s separateness. Jesus in teaching the disciples to pray wanted them to be real clear about God’s separateness, Which basically means “you need to acknowledge a God that is not like you”
(v.13) “but was beating his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” this word for mercy in this text is only used in one other verse ih the NT
17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
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(v.17) “to make propitiation for the sins of the people”
-propitiation-this means both the covering of a sins by a sacrifice, and the turning away of wrath because of the satisfaction the came by this sacrifice or gift.
(v.14) This tax collector was asking God to cover his sin with the blood, and turn away your wrath. He was acknowledging two things:
a. I am a sinner, I am broken, I am stained
b. I deserve your wrath. I own my punishment, and it is deserved. No excuses.
(v.14) This man did not come proudly to prayer, but humbly asking God to descend or to incline his ears, to an underserving man.
18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
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-The Psalmist says it best: God will come close to those who are aware of his greatest and their own smallness. God will come near to a church that recognizes their own weakness, and frailty, God will come near a marriage that understands that He is the glue that holds them together. God will come near to parents who recognize that their children are not their own and that they are just managing them. God will come near the single who is trying to live godly but struggles with loneliness.
Notice Jesus conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
(v.14) “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other” This conclusion had to blow the mind’s of those that where in attendance at this preaching moment. The Pharisees is a righteous and very religious man who knows the Torah backward and forwards. That Tax collector is an extorter who robs his own people, and yet he went home “justified”
-Justified—render righteous!! this means that the Tax Collector went home with a clean slate, and the Pharisees went home still bearing the weight of his own sin.
-Jesus then ends the teaching with a very powerful principle:
“for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted”
-When you write your own press reviews and lift yourself up there will come a time when you will be brought low. But those that humble themselves. Those the kept the right perspective on who they are and who God is will eventually be exalted.
Listen to this OT example of a Humble man being exalted
9 The Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to the Lord. 10 The Lord also said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments; 11 and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. 12 “You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death. 13 ‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people, and they washed their garments. 15 He said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” 16 So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. 18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
exodus 19:9-
Context: In Chapter 19 the Lord is getting commitments from the Children of Israel to follow his commands. Then in (v.9) he essentially tells Moses I am going to come visit my children. He tells Moses to rope off the MT Sinai and set a boundary for the people not to cross, he then tells them to wash their clothes, and their bodies, and also there was to be no intercourse until after the divine visitation.
(v.16-17) The Thunder rolled and the lightning flash the whole mountain began to shake. The people were terrified. Moses began to speak and the Lord answered him with thunder. Now notice (v.20)
(v.20) Here is the principle of humbling yourself so that he will exalt you. Moses consecrated himself and the people. This means they dealt with any sins that needed to be dealt with. Now look at the text:
-The God “who is in heaven” descended on the mountain and Moses ascended up the mountain.....look at the phraseology of the (v.20) “the Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Why would Moses get this special invitation to meet God?
3 (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)
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-This is powerful right here. Humble Moses willingly obeyed the Lord and brought the people out of Egypt. Moses humbled himself under the mighty hand of God, and then God exalted Moses and meet him on the top of mount Sinai.
-You see when you humble yourself God will set up some divine appointments between you and him. What we need more than things is to meet the Lord and have him speak to us. He may not meet us on top of a mountain, but If we would humble ourselves he will exalt us in due time. If this church would humble itself God will show up in this building and fill this whole place with his presence. Folks lives will be changed and this whole community will be changed for his glory.
-How many people like the direction that this world is going in?
Do you want to be part of changing this world? or do you want to sit around and complain about it?
-Then Humble yourself so that the Lord can use you!!!!
Whenever God means to make a man great He always breaks him in pieces first......Charles Spurgeon
