Humble like Jesus

Intro-

Philippians 2:1–4 ESV

1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

What is Humility?

Oftentimes, we see examples of individuals who have no clue what humility is…

Humility is the quality of unpretentious behavior, suggesting a total lack of arrogance or pride. One who has humility will not be overly concerned about his or her prestige.

A humble person is ‘one who causes his heart to bow down’ or even ‘one who makes his heart small.’ Humility is not to think little of oneself or mean of oneself; no humility is not to think of oneself at all.”

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Sunday before his death on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments on the road, and singing praises, do you think for one moment it ever dawned on the donkey that any of that was for him?

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

Jesus’ Teaching about Humility

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Sitting down, He called the twelve and said* to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”

But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

We are taught that we should have a servant’s heart. How do we know when we are humble as servants? We will know by how we act when we are treated like a servant.

Jesus rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant£ is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

4 Signs of Humility

1. Dependence upon God

Dependence upon God

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

In order to indicate clearly that this poverty or need is related in some way to spiritual realities, one may translate ‘happy are those who recognize their need of God.’

“But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”

“Humility is the freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have and all we are comes from God.”

2. Recognition of one’s weaknesses and sins before God

Recognition of one’s weaknesses and sins before God

When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Respect

Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Humble persons do not threaten or challenge another’s rights, nor do they claim more for themselves than has been duly allotted them in life. They even stay a step below or behind their rightful status.

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.

Submissiveness to God

He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof

He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof Will dwell among the wise. He who neglects discipline despises himself, But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.

Will dwell among the wise.

32 He who neglects discipline despises himself,

But he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

"He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John the Baptist)

33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom,

And before honor comes humility.

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

"He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John the Baptist)

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Conclusion:

When we stand at the foot of the cross, we need to know the ground is level. Nobody stands there better than others. All are in need of the grace of Christ and His cleansing blood.

Do you need His blood to cleanse you?

Humble like Jesus

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