Humility by Charles David Walker
I. Importance of humility
A Profound
B. Humility is required before divine forgiveness.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
C. Humility is a lost aspect of godliness
II. Humility the example of Christ
Philippians 2:1-11 NASB Be Like Christ
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 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. 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. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ died to fulfill the need sinners have before being acceptable to the Holy God.
III. Definition of humility in the Greek lexicon is leveling of mountains down to the plains.
As a character trait humility is the establishing of relationships by the treatment of others as being just as worthy as oneself – or both parties being as if on level ground no mountains or plains.
Humility does not mean the establishing of relationships with others when they act superior as if from above or inferior as if from below.
Philippians 2:3-4 NASB
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.
The godly characteristic of humility is to regard the interest of others before ones own. This is lifting up ones fellowman to a level ground by considering their needs before ones own. Such is the commandment to the believer.
IV. Spiritual mechanics of divine humility
God gives grace to the humble and is opposed to the proud.
1 Peter 5:5-7
5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
This is the divine working in relationships – marriage
Pride is self exaltation while humility opens the way for God exaltation as in
Philippians 2.
Philippians 2:8b-9a NASB
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him
In caring for the needs of others first, the believer’s needs are trusted to God. Believers take care of others and God takes care of believers.
I. Importance of humility
A Profound
B. Humility is required before divine forgiveness.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB
and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
C. Humility is a lost aspect of godliness
II. Humility the example of Christ
Philippians 2:1-11 NASB Be Like Christ
1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, 2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 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. 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. 8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Christ died to fulfill the need sinners have before being acceptable to the Holy God.
III. Definition of humility in the Greek lexicon is leveling of mountains down to the plains.
As a character trait humility is the establishing of relationships by the treatment of others as being just as worthy as oneself – or both parties being as if on level ground no mountains or plains.
Humility does not mean the establishing of relationships with others when they act superior as if from above or inferior as if from below.
Philippians 2:3-4 NASB
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.
The godly characteristic of humility is to regard the interest of others before ones own. This is lifting up ones fellowman to a level ground by considering their needs before ones own. Such is the commandment to the believer.
IV. Spiritual mechanics of divine humility
God gives grace to the humble and is opposed to the proud.
1 Peter 5:5-7
5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
This is the divine working in relationships – marriage
Pride is self exaltation while humility opens the way for God exaltation as in
Philippians 2.
Philippians 2:8b-9a NASB
He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him
In caring for the needs of others first, the believer’s needs are trusted to God. Believers take care of others and God takes care of believers.
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