Humble Exaltation

Humility is essential for the Christian Disciple. It has been taught through parables, as well as through proverbs (short pithy sayings). (Mt18:4; Mt23:12;1Pt5:6); First gives a warning, then an exhortation and exaltation. To start a few things to think about first.

Matthew 18:4 NASB95

4 “Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus instructs on humility for entrance into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 23:12 NASB95

12 “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Jesus warns about self-exhalation (pride)

1 Peter 5:6 NASB95

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

So, as Peter says, humble yourself and God will lift you up (exalt) you at the proper time.

In our passage James, the proverb of the N.T. writer, gets to the heart of the matter for it is about the matter of the heart. The problem in the days of James is still a problem, or potential problem today.

What makes you a Christian?

There are many who claim to be Christians whose life offers no proof of their Christianity; so what makes a Christian?

Church attendance?

IF it were church attendance than if you went to Mc Donalds all the time you would become a Big Mac if we follow that logic.

If it were Church attendance then eating at McDonalds all the time would make you a big mac right?

While it can help us in our growth as Christians, going to church cannot make you a Christian

Hearing the word?

Hearing the word without application avails nothing, it needs obedience, for hearing without it is self-deception (Jm1:19-20)

Our faith?

James says faith without works is dead, so it is not faith alone that makes us a Christian (Jm2:14-25)

How about prayers?

I think we have spoken enough in the past about prayer itself cannot get us into the kingdom and cannot make us a Christian but prayer is important

But prayers offered with the wrong heart avail nothing (Jm4:3)

Look then what James has to say in our first section. Then we will get to the pithy sayings regarding steps to ensure humility.

Jm4:4-5

James 4:4–5 NASB95

4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”?

James 4:6–7 NASB95

6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Humility a warning and a promise

In some very hard, harsh words James grabs the attention of the readers, of the audience for he lays the groundwork for some steps to ensure humility

Friendship with the world is an enmity (enemy) of God.

There is no freedom, no humility if you are not willing to fully submit to God and you can’t do that unless you understand that God is exclusive.

God is a jealous God, He wants all of us, not just weekend visits (Jm4:6; Exo20:5).

Humility comes when we know He is all things, and in Him we have all things and we need to put Him before all things, including the world

Exodus 20:5 NASB95

5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

Grace goes to the humble (Jm4:6; Pro3:34)

James quotes from Proverbs

Proverbs 3:34 NKJV

34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

I think it is pretty clear grace goes to the humble and God opposes the proud. you cannot be living by pride, by your works and be accepted by God.

With a warning and a promise in place, James now gives us some steps to humility.

Now let me give you the passage then will look at the steps.

James 4:7–8 NASB95

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 4:9–10 NASB95

9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Step One: Submit yourself

Submission; the action or fact of accepting or yielding to a superior force or to the will or authority of another person. Submission by decision to the power that wants to help you to be humble.

For we can know:

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God opposes the proud (Pro28:25) and the fool (Pro14:16)

God will bring justice, judgment on the proud (Isa2:12)

We can come to God in submission so grace can be given (Jm4:6)

We submit so God can help us in our time of need (Heb4:16)

Grace applied when we submit (Tit2:11-13); God’s greater work at work in us (1Jn4:4)

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God opposes the proud (Pro28:25) and the fool (Pro14:16)

Proverbs 28:25 NKJV

25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

And add to that one about the fool

We can come to God in submission so grace can be given (Jm4:6)

Proverbs 14:16 ESV

16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.

We submit so God can help us in our time of need (Heb4:16)

Don’t be a fool, submit to God. Submission is more than about salvation, it is about sanctification and maturity too.

God opposes the proud (Pro28:25) and the fool

God will bring justice, judgment on the proud (Isa2:12)

We can come to God in submission so grace can be given (Jm4:6)

We submit so God can help us in our time of need (Heb4:16)

Grace applied when we submit (Tit2:11-13); God’s greater work at work in us (1Jn4:4)

Isaiah 2:12 NASB95

12 For the Lord of hosts will have a day of reckoning Against everyone who is proud and lofty And against everyone who is lifted up, That he may be abased.

There will be a day of reckoning against the proud and if you were to look at Zeph3:11 you would see that the proud will even be removed.

God opposes the proud (Pro28:25) and the fool

God will bring justice, judgment on the proud (Isa2:12)

We can come to God in submission so grace can be given (Jm4:6)

James 4:6 NASB95

6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

That was just in case you forgot the scripture from a few minutes ago.

Grace applied when we submit (Tit2:11-13); God’s greater work at work in us (1Jn4:4)

We need to come to God in humility, in submission so that grace, a greater grace, can be given.

God opposes the proud (Pro28:25) and the fool

God will bring justice, judgment on the proud (Isa2:12)

We can come to God in submission so grace can be given (Jm4:6)

We submit so God can help us in our time of need (Heb4:16)

Hebrews 4:16 NASB95

16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Grace applied when we submit (Tit2:11-13); God’s greater work at work in us (1Jn4:4)

Don’t we all have needs for mercy, needs for grace, to be given to us and to be given to others? Yes we do, so submit to God and allow Him to do it!

God’s grace happens when we submit to Him.

God opposes the proud (Pro28:25) and the fool

God will bring justice, judgment on the proud (Isa2:12)

We can come to God in submission so grace can be given (Jm4:6)

We submit so God can help us in our time of need (Heb4:16)

Grace applied when we submit (Tit2:11-13); God’s greater work at work in us (1Jn4:4)

Titus 2:11–12 NASB95

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

Titus 2:13 NASB95

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

God’s greater work in us

1 John 4:4 NASB95

4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

The Holy Spirit that dwells in us when we submit by faith, in obedience to God!

Step Two - Draw near

How do you draw near? Why draw near? Somethings to think about, consider regarding drawing near when it comes to humility.

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Draw near by resisting and not befriending the world (Jm4:4)

James tells us some specific things to do to have true humility and how we can resist the devil. And it starts with not befriending the world

Draw near by cleansing your hands

Purifying your heart your double minded

So, how?

Seek Him (Heb12:1-2)

Set your mind on Him (Col3:1-2)

Repent (Lk5:32)

Surrender for God wants all of us (Exo20:5)

Don’t love the world (1Jn2:15-17)

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Draw near by resisting and not befriending the world (Jm4:4)

To be humble we have to know we cannot be a friend with the world for then we are an enemy with God. We have to resist the devil and he will flee from us and when we draw near to God He will draw near to us (this is an act of repentance and God’s forgiveness).

Draw near by cleansing your hands

This is the appeal to cleanse the things that we touch, our outward lifestyle

This also the things we do, places we go. This is the physical things that can impact our humility and our ability to draw near to God.

Purifying your heart your double minded

This is our motives, our thoughts, this is what people don’t see, but that we covet inside or think about inside that we allow in our mind and then into our heart.

These are the things that we allow to go before seeking God first as we are commanded to do.

we are to be single minded, have the mind of Christ so this one is important.

One who is double minded is one who thinks he is OK with the world and with God, whereas God’s words says He is a jealous God as it says in (Exo20:5) and He wants all us and not just part of us. Full time God not a weekend God.

So, how?

Seek Him (Heb12:1-2)

Set your mind on Him (Col3:1-2)

Hebrews 12:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Repent (Lk5:32)

Seek Him (Heb12:1-2)

Set your mind on Him (Col3:1-2)

Surrender for God wants all of us (Exo20:5)

Colossians 3:1–2 NASB95

1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

Don’t love the world (1Jn2:15-17)

Surrender for God wants all of us (Exo20:5)

Make Him priority, set you mind, your thinking which influences your actions on Him and His desires for You. Don’t get entangled or imprisoned by the world.

Don’t love the world (1Jn2:15-17)

Seek Him (Heb12:1-2)

Set your mind on Him (Col3:1-2)

Repent (Lk5:32)

Luke 5:32 NASB95

32 “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”

Don’t love the world (1Jn2:15-17)

Here is another verse that should go here, it’s a freebie not on your outline

Matthew 4:17 NASB95

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Seek Him (Heb12:1-2)

Set your mind on Him (Col3:1-2)

Repent (Lk5:32)

Surrender for God wants all of us (Exo20:5)

Don’t love the world (1Jn2:15-17)

Exodus 20:5 NASB95

Let Him be your full time God, he wants full custody not weekend visits as I mentioned a minute ago.

Seek Him (Heb12:1-2)

Set your mind on Him (Col3:1-2)

Repent (Lk5:32)

Surrender for God wants all of us (Exo20:5)

Don’t love the world (1Jn2:15-17)

1 John 2:15–16 NASB95

15 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1 John 2:17 NASB95

17 The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.

Step Three - Repentance

I know I mentioned repentance a moment ago, but maybe we should expand on it some.

James 4:9 The Message

9 Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious.

Had to just bring that in, this version brings the severity of the topic out.

Lament, grieve, mourn, wail

This is acknowledging our sins and grieving because we have sinned against God.

This is godly sorrow (2Cor7:10-11)

2 Corinthians 7:10–11 NASB95

10 For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For behold what earnestness this very thing, this godly sorrow, has produced in you: what vindication of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what avenging of wrong! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be innocent in the matter.

The summation of this part, of this teaching thus far, is we need to quit playing games with the devil and sin, and become serious about forsaking the world and sinful ways, we need to resist the devil in every area of our lives. We cannot please God while we entertain satan. we need to declare war on him, we need to submit, resist, draw near, cleanse, purify, and now that brings us to our next point.

Step Four - Humble yourselves

Humility comes with repentance, and humility brings about our victory over our flesh.

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Humility comes before exaltation (Jm4:10; Isa66:2)

Humility helps to to count all trials a joy (Jm1:2-4)

Humility helps us know when tempted we have a way out (1Cor10:13)

Humility helps us have the assurance that God will lift us up (Ps40:2)

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Humility comes before exaltation (Jm4:10; Isa66:2)

Humility helps to to count all trials a joy (Jm1:2-4)

James 4:10 NASB95

10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Humility helps us know when tempted we have a way out (1Cor10:13)

The Lord looks upon the humble

Humility helps us have the assurance that God will lift us up (Ps40:2)

Isaiah 66:2 NASB95

2 “For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Humility comes before exaltation (Jm4:10; Isa66:2)

Humility helps to to count all trials a joy (Jm1:2-4)

Though we may face trials, and we will, we can count them a joy when we know the promise of the exaltation.

(expand very briefly on Jm1:2-4; no need to read it)

Humility comes before exaltation (Jm4:10; Isa66:2)

Humility helps to to count all trials a joy (Jm1:2-4)

Humility helps us know when tempted we have a way out (1Cor10:13)

Humility helps us have the assurance that God will lift us up (Ps40:2)

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB95

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Trials and temptations there is a way out! and it has a great ending.

Tiral

Humility comes before exaltation (Jm4:10; Isa66:2)

Humility helps to to count all trials a joy (Jm1:2-4)

Humility helps us know when tempted we have a way out (1Cor10:13)

Humility helps us have the assurance that God will lift us up (Ps40:2)

Psalm 40:2 NASB95

2 He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

He sets our feet upon a rock! Our Rock, on Jesus who is our hope.

(humble yourself- jm4:10 slide)

So, humility is essential and we have some simple truths we have looked at in our passage tonight

Submit yourself to God

Draw near to God

Grieve, mourn, in other words repent

Humble yourself and know God will lift you up.

(Encouragement slide) prayer (exit slide)

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