A Plan of Action

Romans 12:3–5 NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.

Introduction:

We come to the third part of this series on “renewed thinking”.

We saw the goal in part one from Isaiah 61, and the necessary aspects of the gospel.

We also saw the remedy in part two from Romans 12:2, which was to allow ourselves to be transformed in the renewing of our mind.

And today we will see the plan of action.

The first thing we come across in this plan of action, is that...

We are to wear humility. Vs.3-5

Let’s look at verses 3-5 again:

Romans 12:3 NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Yes, we put on humility like a garment!

1 Peter 5:5 NKJV

5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

Humility is also a character trait of the Lord.

Matthew 11:28–29 (NKJV)

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

And so in our plan of action, we find that we begin with humility

I. Humility drives the gospel message.

A humble spirit in the Christian, is a powerful magnate that attracts people to the gospel message.

This is the crux of this message today!

There can be no doubt, that by far, the lack of Christian humility is the main reason for the lack of personal revival; and the lack of personal revival is a major cause for the lack of true conversions to Christ!

Isaiah 53:7 NKJV

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

This prophecy of Christ, was fulfilled when the Lord appeared before Pontius Pilate.

If you remember, Pontius Pilate was surprised that Jesus would not say a word in His own defence, when He was accused.

This virtue of Christ, disarmed the ruler, and we can only imagine the questions it presented in the mind of Pilate!

It was all part of the great plan of God for the propagation of the gospel, and it’s the same for you and I today!

When I am humble, It focuses the attention on Jesus! and so, the message will more readily be received!

Why are people attracted to religious leaders like the Dali Lama?

Because he teaches humility.

To say that humility is an essential ingredient in our pursuit of spiritual transformation may seem to be at odds with what I have said about the need for confidence. But there is clearly a distinction to be made between valid confidence or self-esteem, and conceit - which we can describe as an inflated sense of importance, grounded in a false image of self.

- Dali Lama Facebook Page

But let us ask ourselves, What does the world see in us?

Humility or pride?

With all the bickering and arguing going on in the body of Christ, no one is seeing humility.

II. Humility demonstrates dependence on God.

History of the Christian Church § 46. Christianity in Individuals

The transforming spiritual power of Christianity appears first in the lives of individuals. The apostles and primitive Christians rose to a morality and piety far above that of the heroes of heathen virtue and even that of the Jewish saints. Their daily walk was a living union with Christ, ever seeking the glory of God and the salvation of men. Many of the cardinal virtues, humility, for example, and love for enemies, were unknown before the Christian day.

When I am humble, I am displaying less of me and more of Christ!

A wonderful example of this can be found in the life of Charles Tindley who wrote the hymn, “Nothing Between”.

Amazing Grace—366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions 2. Nothing Between

Born to slave parents and separated from them when only five years of age, Charles Tindley was a most remarkable individual. He learned to read and write on his own at the age of 17, attended night school, completed seminary training through correspondence, and was ordained to the Methodist ministry. While attending evening school, young Tindley supported himself as the janitor of the Calvary Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. In 1902, Charles Tindley was called to pastor this prestigious church where he had once been the janitor. The Calvary Methodist Church prospered greatly under his leadership. Eventually several larger sanctuaries had to be built to accommodate the crowds of all races that came to hear this humble preacher. In 1924, in spite of Tindley’s protests, the new church building was renamed the Tindley Temple Methodist Church.

Charles Tindley expresses a concern in this hymn for many of the practices and attitudes that must be rejected if Christians are to be pleasing to their Lord. The hymn reminds us that we must watch out for those allurements and temptations that can easily disrupt our spiritual courses: “Delusive dreams, sinful-worldly pleasures, habits, pride, self or friends.” The Bible teaches that we are not to be conformed to this world but should know the transforming power of a spiritually renewed mind (Romans 12:1, 2).

Nothing between my soul and the Savior, naught of this world’s delusive dream: I have renounced all sinful pleasure—Jesus is mine! There’s nothing between.

When we look to the lives of those who have demonstrated true humility, we find a special connection between them and God.

But, if we find ourselves still asking what it means to put on humility, we need only go back to verse three from Romans twelve:

Romans 12:3 NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Once again in this series we find a mind set.

We need a transformation of thinking, and that comes when we see who we really are in Christ, and who we really are in this world.

Conclusion:

Could not everyone of us use more humility in our lives?

Why must we always be right?

Why must we seek to be above others and not esteem them better than ourselves?

why do we carry on in such un Christian behavior?