Grow Humble

Introduction:

RECAP: Grow Small (willingn’ss); Grow Up (offenses like X); Grow Together (C.G.I.); Grow Deep (Prayer, Word, Walk out)

Today, lay out biblical worldview - lens thru which see the world

Shaped by God's character in the OT. Defined by Jesus' revelation in NT

Both very similar things. Make connections! *Bible Project*

Compare OT & NT examples

TODAY: Grow Humble!

“Self-care” = take care self first; repel neg; “WELLNESS”

Inustry… 2019: $4.2T globally ($52.5B, USA)! Profitable nonsense.

Deep down, 1oz is ok; 249oz fluff & (at core) selfish!

The Truth: We have GREAT Value!

Genesis 1:26-27 “Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

Imago Dei - dif. given vs. animals; priestly role!... God’s reps.

Psalm 8:5-6 “You have made [humans] a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet:”

all under God's umbrella/w His wisd.

Jesus life & ministry - affirmed & restored broken, discouraged, abused; empowered followers!

John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

Ephesians 2:6-7 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.”

Given high command... called into great auth... have immense value...

The Catch: We're Called to Live Humbly!

Genesis 2:15-17 “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.””

"Reaffirms the cmd to enjoy, but follow MY wisd..."

There is a BETTER path to gain discern good & bad; eat of my life-giving tree & share

Give me your ultimate desires. Let me guide your days!

Deuteronomy 24:22 “[Let the poor and disenfranchised work your field...] Remember that you were slaves in Egypt. That is why I command you to do this.”

~10x mentioned in Deut & Ex.

I am going to bless you (in land), but don’t use that blessing to just stuff YOUR face…

Philippians 2:1-4 “Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Even tho you have all this in X... look to others!

From beg.: Called to use our auth./power to do good to others/things happen!

The Problem: We Live Selfishly!

Genesis 3:6 “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.”

Given it ALL w. one stipulation... wanted to take it themselves (their way)

Didn’t take a lot for serpent to coax. Was already near the tree… Twisted a couple words of YHWH.

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”

Ephesians 2:1-3 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts...”

This is our default setting; our greatest fault / tendency.

2 Timothy 3 lists the characteristics of one who does not follow X. People we see all around us. Should not be surprising!

SO. God thinks the world of us humans. Gave us a great and valued call - one we still have; perhaps with even greater import! It is, at core, about following His dir.

However, we REGULARLY use this auth. to fulfill own ideas of pleasure

The Mission: How do I Walk in Humility?

Value Others

Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,”

They're images! All those AMEN’s earlier.... those are for your spouse and your neighbor & even that guy you hate at work!

They're Worth dying for... John 3:16 says WHOLE world. Even that one politician, dictator, terrorist!

X not nec. happy about the way they are acting, neither may you be… still commanded to recognize their value!

Cheering when Osama died…

Serve Others

Use our Auth./indepe’ce to lay it down (like X!)

Romans 15:1-3 “We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.””

X, once again, is our example! We need to ask “what can I do for my neighbor” more often than we ask, “what else do I need/to buy?”!

Renew Yourself

Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...”

If we can change our stinking thinking… well on our way to serve X better!

Good news! Holy Spirit is here to help!

Pracical step?? Develop relationship w. some1 who u consider difficult.

Let God bring new appreciation of them to you. Mourn w/, rejoice w/…

"Gave me a wife to show how selfish i can be."