Growing in Christ - Put on humility.
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Intro
Intro
I want to begin this morning with a short story about D.L. Moody
He was born in Northfield, Massachusetts, to a Unitarian bricklayer's family. His father died when Moody was 4, leaving nine children for his mother, Betsey, to raise. His mother never encouraged Dwight to read the Bible, and he only acquired the equivalent of a fifth-grade education.
He struck out on his own at age 17 and sold shoes in his uncle's Boston store. He also attended YMCA and Sunday school classes, where he became a Christian at age 18. Shortly after that, he moved to Chicago, where he sold shoes and worked toward his goal of amassing a fortune of $100,000.
1819
Channing issues Unitarian Christianity
1833
John Keble's sermon launches Oxford Movement
1835
Charles Finney's Lectures on Revivals
1837
Dwight L. Moody born
1899
Dwight L. Moody dies
1906
Schweitzer's The Quest of the Historical Jesus
He struck out on his own at age 17 and sold shoes in his uncle's Boston store. He also attended YMCA and Sunday school classes, where he became a Christian at age 18. Shortly after that, he moved to Chicago, where he sold shoes and worked toward his goal of amassing a fortune of $100,000.
It slowly dawned on Moody that, in light of his new faith, his life should not be spent on amassing wealth as much as on helping the poor. In 1858 he established a mission Sunday school at North Market Hall in a slum of Chicago. It soon blossomed into a church. By 1861 he had left his business to concentrate on social and evangelistic work. He drew the children of the German and Scandinavian immigrant underclass to his mission with candy and pony rides, and he drew the adults through evening prayer meetings and English classes. He was convinced, "If you can really make a man believe you love him, you have won him."
Moody gained fame and notoriety as he traveled and preached in the UK for a couple of years.
When he returned to America there were many calls for him to begin crusades and bring revival.
Of his fame, Moody admitted, "I know perfectly well that, wherever I go and preach, there are many better preachers ... than I am; all that I can say about it is that the Lord uses me."
People came from around the world to attend his Bible Conferences in Northfield, Massachusetts. One year a large group of pastors from Europe were among the attendees. They were given rooms in the dormitory of the Bible school. As was the custom in Europe, the men put their shoes outside the door of their room, expecting them to be cleaned and polished by servants during the night.
Of course there were no servants in the American dorm, but as Moody was walking through the halls and praying for his guests, he saw the shoes and realized what had happened. He mentioned the problem to a few of his students, but none of them offered to help. Without another word, the great evangelist gathered up the shoes and took them back to his own room where he began to clean and polish each pair. Moody told no one what he had done, but a friend who interrupted him in the middle of shining the shoes and helped him finish the task later told the story of what had happened. Despite the praise and fame he received because of God’s blessing on his life and ministry, Moody remained a humble man.
I give this example this morning to introduce us to the idea of humility.
Most often, power and fame corrupts. When we think of people today, how many that have wealth and power would you consider to be humble people.
Moody is an example of someone who put on humility.
He maintained a tireless schedule. In the month before Moody died, he was preaching 6 sermons a day.
It is evident from his life that Moody grew in Christ by putting on humility.
The question arises for then, how do we grow in Christ by putting on humility.
Col. 3:5-12
Paul’s instruction.
Paul’s instruction.
Paul’s Instruction.
Paul’s Instruction.
We have been looking at the list of virtues that Paul commanded the Colossian readers to put on. The first thing that Paul instructs his readers to put on is compassionate hearts. This is more than an awareness of others suffering but also a desire to help wherever possible. In this there is also a desire to help those who don’t know the love of Jesus come to know Him.
The second thing Paul instructs readers to put on is kindness. This is more than a mustering up a smile at the person checking out your groceries or waving at the person in the car headed the other way. This is kindness that is shown in God’s sending His own son to take the punishment for our sins. This is the same kindness that is in God’s very nature. Another way to view this could be having a Christlike attitude towards others.
You know the slogan WWJD, but do you know Jesus well enough to have an idea of what he might do?
Are we spending enough time in God’s word to know Jesus and grow in our relationship with Him?
The third thing, which we are looking at today is humility.
Paul instructs his readers to put on humility.
When I say the word humility, what comes to your mind?
For me, my initial thoughts go to someone that is weak, pushed around, not in control.
That is because when when think of humility we think of a state of lowliness.
Humility has been and often still is viewed negatively.
Humility was in the times of Paul and often still is understood in terms of servility and cowardice.
To put these things on though does not sound like a good thing.
None of these appear to be admirable things.
We must take a deeper look at humility to understand what it is that we are actually supposed to be putting on.
Humility when defined means to have a freedom from pride or arrogance. A modest or low view of one’s own importance.
When looking to the Greek text, and to our text specifically we see an interesting thing in how it is used.
The word for humility is used in both a positive and negative light.
Jump back with me to chapter 2
18 Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind,
23 These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.
The word asceticism here is actually the same word that Paul is now telling his readers to put on.
What is the difference?
The difference is the motive behind it.
In chapter two Paul was warning against what the false teachers were telling the Colossian believers to do because of why they were doing it.
The false teachers were putting on a show.
This is exactly the situation that Jesus was speaking about when He taught about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
This is an example of humility that was wrongly directed.
God thank you that I am not an outward sinner. Thank that my sins are hidden.
Look at what I do for you, I fast twice a week and give tithes.
This is an example of humility that was wrongly directed.
Is that what God asks for?
The false teachers Paul was warning of were teaching the same thing. Teaching people to make themselves look good for God, rather than responding as the tax collector.
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
At the root of the issue is a battle with our love of ourselves.
Same word was used earlier to refer to the false humility that the false teachers were promoting.
(Asceticism)
A battle with pride.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.
There is a lot to be said there.
Pride, the love of self, brings disgrace.
Humility, as a step to wisdom, is to acknowledge our dependence on God and to be teachable.
Our culture encourages pride, which separates us from God's wisdom.
Pride says we are self-reliant; we know it all or deserve it all.
As Proverbs says, pride leads to disgrace and failure in our relationship with God and others.
That is the difference in how Paul is using the word here in Colossians.
In chapter two, he is referring to the pride-fullness of the false teachers and their desire to impose that on fellow believers.
It is not bad to take pride in the work we do. It is however a problem when that pride causes us to place ourselves first. When our pride causes us to worship the idle of ourselves, there is a major issue at hand.
Pride and humility can not go hand in hand.
Prideful people do not have teachable hearts.
The way Paul uses the word now in 3:12 though is for the purpose of modesty.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
This is a virtue of modest self-perception. The opposite of pride and arrogance.
This is an attitude of humility that is a teachable spirit.
An attitude that counts others as more significant, which is the example of Christ which we follow and will look at here shortly.
It is important that we establish a proper relationship with God, with others, and with ourselves.
When was the last time you took a moment and humbled yourself before the Lord. Perhaps even got down on your knees and humbled yourself thanking Him and seeking His work in your life?
The act of bowing low to the ground expresses submissiveness and thus is associated with the virtue of humility.
That is one example of humbling ourselves before God, but what about humbling ourselves before others as says.
How do we count others as more significant that ourselves.
This task is easier said than done, our flesh will fight us the whole way because it is not natural for us to do.
This will look different depending upon the situation we are in and the people we are with.
It can’t end there though, it must also travel out from these walls as a light piercing through darkness.
This is the sort of real, practical humility that we are called to put on. Not that we will be nicer or better people, but that we would reflect the image of Jesus. That we will grow in love and be beacons of hope in a fallen world.
We grow in Christ by putting on this sort of humility.
Jesus humbled himself.
Jesus humbled himself.
I hinted to this a little earlier but the ultimate example of humility is Christ.
Jesus is the example that we must look to in order know how to put on humility that replaces passion, evil desire, and covetousness, the things that Paul instructs earlier to put off.
The ultimate example of humility is Christ.
What was the most humble act that Jesus committed we might ask.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Can we truly wrap our minds around that?
It is remarkable to begin with that God the Son would take on human form.
He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death. Not a nice and easy death either. A death of excruciating torment and pain.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 2
Crucifixion was not simply a convenient way of executing prisoners. It was the ultimate indignity, a public statement by Rome that the crucified one was beyond contempt. The excruciating physical pain was magnified by the degradation and humiliation. No other form of death, no matter how prolonged or physically agonizing, could match crucifixion as an absolute destruction of the person (see note on Matt. 27:35). It was the ultimate counterpoint to the divine majesty of the preexistent Christ, and thus was the ultimate expression of Christ’s obedience to the Father.
Christ humbled himself through His obedience. This was the ultimate humble act. He humbled himself, became a servant of all, dying to take away the sins of the world. That those who place their faith in Him would not be plagued by the guilt and shame of their own prideful, sinful ways.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God and King of Heaven, had all rights to honor, praise, and worship. Yet to be our Saviour, He laid all of His privileges aside and became a lowly servant.
We often hear people talk of living as Jesus lived, which is what I hope to implore us to do today.
While He truly is the model for us to follow, many who speak of following Him are unwilling to give up their rights and reflect His humility.
If we want to be like Jesus we must be humble, we must place ourselves in the role of a servants.
We are owed hell, but receive heaven because of Jesus.
Humility is one of the foremost tests that a leader can be put under and Jesus
Andrew Murray writes in the book Humility- A Journey towards holiness.
· Humility is to acknowledge that our relationship to God is “one of unceasing, absolute dependence” and “that we owe everything to God”. “We must present ourselves as empty vessels in which God can dwell and manifest His power and goodness”.
is “one of unceasing, absolute dependence” and
is “one of unceasing, absolute dependence” and
“that we owe everything to God”. “We must present
“that we owe everything to God”. “We must present
ourselves as empty vessels in which God can dwell
ourselves as empty vessels in which God can dwell
and manifest His power and goodness”.
and manifest His power and goodness”.
· “When I look back upon my Christian experience,
· “When I look back upon my Christian experience,
· “When I look back upon my Christian experience, or at the church of Christ as a whole, I am amazed at how little humility is seen as the distinguishing feature of discipleship.” Humility is not esteemed the cardinal virtue, the one indispensable condition of true fellowship with Jesus.”
or at the church of Christ as a whole, I am amazed
or at the church of Christ as a whole, I am amazed
at how little humility is seen as the distinguishing
at how little humility is seen as the distinguishing
feature of discipleship.” Humility is not esteemed
feature of discipleship.” Humility is not esteemed
the cardinal virtue, the one indispensable condition
the cardinal virtue, the one indispensable condition
of true fellowship with Jesus.”
of true fellowship with Jesus.”
We must ask ourselves the question am I willing to put on this sort of humility?
Am I willing to be an obedient servant, perhaps even to the point of death?
Am I going to set aside my pride, my selfishness, in order to put on Christlike humility.
We grow in Christ by putting on the humility of a servant, just as Jesus did.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Put on humility.
Put on humility.
If putting on humility is putting on a Christlike attitude towards others and towards ourselves.
Then a humble attitude is the opposite of an attitude of entitlement.
It is the lack of a you owe me attitude.
You owe me because I helped you out that one time.
I am owed this because I work hard every day.
To put on humility we must put off this sense of entitlement.
The only thing that we are truly owed, is a fiery fate because of our sins.
We put on an attitude of humility when we reject our pride-filled selves and place others first.
Oh that we would really be able to love our neighbor as ourselves.
Much easier said than done, but a goal to strive for.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
Our fellowship is maintained by humility of spirit. When we as believers count others better than ourselves, we are putting on humility, we are putting on the mind of Christ.
God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Jam. 4:6
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
He will do the exalting, it is not our job or even in our power to do so.
Pride is the evil that comes from within, that focuses us more and more onto our own selves.
Humility though changes that focus and directs it outwards.
Humility ought to manifest itself in our love one another.
I want to close with a final example of a man who is living in a humble way, even though he has every reason not to.
Has anyone heard of Nick Vujicic (voo-yee-cheech)
Nick was born in Australia without any arms or legs.
According to Nick, the victory over his struggles, as well as his strength and passion for life today, can be credited to his faith in God. His family, friends and the many people he has encountered along the journey have inspired him to carry on, as well.
Play video
Nick says, “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!” Nick’s latest foray into radio will expand his platform for inviting men and women all around the world to embrace the liberating hope and message of Jesus Christ.
When Nick was asked - Can you tell us why your faith is so important to you?
Q. Nick in your books you speak a lot about your faith. Can you tell us why your faith is so important to you?
Q. Nick in your books you speak a lot about your faith. Can you tell us why your faith is so important to you?
A.
A.
I am not someone who says "just have a positive attitude," or "just have a little faith," because without God, those words are meaningless, and empty. My faith in God, and my personal relationship has given me the strength to go on, and the humility and grace to ask Him to change my life each day. I learned that if my circumstance doesn’t change then my heart needs to change. The truth is, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved US...for in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
Let us have the humility to ask the Lord to change our lives each and every day. To understand that when circumstances don’t change, it may be that our hearts need to.
Let us grow in Christ by putting on the humility that he modeled.
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