New Attitude: The Attitude of Humility.

Matthew 23:12 KJV 1900

12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Our theme for the year helps us with this implementation of New Attitude

Philippians 4:12 KJV 1900

12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Paul is saying I have a humble Attitude to accept whatever state God allows me to be in.

The importance of this virtue springs from the fact that it is found as part of the character of God. In Ps. 113:5–6 God is represented as being incomparably high and great, and yet he humbles himself to take note of the things which are created, while in Ps. 18:35 (cf. 2 Sa. 22:36) the greatness of God’s servant is attributed to the humility (gentleness) which God has displayed towards him.

F. S. Fitzsimmonds, “Humility,” ed. D. R. W. Wood et al., New Bible Dictionary (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 491.

One of God characteristics is humility.

Psalm 113:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, Who dwelleth on high, 6 Who humbleth himself to behold The things that are in heaven, and in the earth!

Philippians 2:8 KJV 1900

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Because of God’s humility He Exalts those who are humble.

Psalm 18:35 KJV 1900

35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: And thy right hand hath holden me up, And thy gentleness hath made me great.

1 Peter 5:5–6 KJV 1900

5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

Humility will ensure you are Exalted in due time.

Luke 1:52 KJV 1900

52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, And exalted them of low degree.

God commands His children to be Humble.

Micah 6:8 KJV 1900

8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; And what doth the Lord require of thee, But to do justly, and to love mercy, And to walk humbly with thy God?

1 Peter 3:8 ESV

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind.

Being Humble does not mean being weak!

Joel 3:10 KJV 1900

10 Beat your plowshares into swords, And your pruninghooks into spears: Let the weak say, I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV 1900

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Jesus was humble, but no one would every call Him weak.

Matthew 11:28–29 NIV

28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

God does not identify us with weakness!

2 Timothy 1:7–8 KJV 1900

7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

The question is asked then, what is Humility?

Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary Humility

HUMILITY The personal quality of being free from arrogance and pride and having an accurate estimate of one’s worth.

Romans 12:3 KJV 1900

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Humility considers others before themselves.

Philippians 2:3 NIV

3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

Humility is not weakness!