Our God is a Humble God

Our God is a Humble God

April 7th 2002

| SHARP – An Interesting Statement!!!!! Ironside Books – Ironside Illustration – Personal thoughts on this subject

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| !! Sub Point 1

God seeks a humble nation  | !! Sub Point 2

God seeks a humble church  | !! Sub Point 3

God seeks a humble person |

| Explain! Because God is a humble God, He is seeking a nation that will live in dependence upon Him

  | Explain! Because God is a humble God, He is seeking for His Church to live and function in dependence upon Him

| Explain! Because God is a humble God, He is seeking for His people, His children to live dependent upon Him

|

| SHARP – So WhatPeas on a knife illustration!!!!! Have Jerry close in a song

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SHARP = Story, Humor, Analogy, Reference, Picture

MAIN POINT OPENING SCRIPTURES & ILLUSTRATION:

Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

[1]

Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

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.

[2]

Dr. Harry Ironside was once convicted about his lack of humility. A friend recommended as a remedy, that he march through the streets of Chicago wearing a sandwich board, shouting the scripture verses on the board for all to hear. Dr. Ironside agreed to this venture and when he returned to his study and removed the board, he said “I’ll bet there’s not another man in town who would do that.”

Daniel, Decoder of Dreams, Donald Campbell, p. 22.

SUB POINT ONE SCRIPTURES:

Deuteronomy 8:1-3 (NIV)

8     Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

[3]

2 Chronicles 28:19 (NIV)

19 The Lord had humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had promoted wickedness in Judah and had been most unfaithful to the Lord.

[4]

Psalm 44:9 (NIV)

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us;

you no longer go out with our armies.

[5]

Micah 6:8 (NIV)

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.

[6]

SUB POINT TWO SCRIPTURES:

Revelation 3:14-17 (NIV)

To the Church in Laodicea

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. [7]

To the Church in Philadelphia

Revelation 3:8-9 (NIV)

8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. 9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

[8]

SUB POINT THREE SCRIPTURES:

Luke 18:14 (NIV) Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about a himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 1:48-52 (NIV)

48 for he has been mindful

of the humble state of his servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me—

holy is his name.

50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,

from generation to generation.

51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;

he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

Isaiah 66:2 (NIV)

2 Has not my hand made all these things,

and so they came into being?”

declares the Lord.

“This is the one I esteem:

he who is humble and contrite in spirit,

and trembles at my word.

McArthur Study Bible on Isa. 66:1-2

Isaiah began the final summary of this prophecy with a reminder that God is not looking g for a temple of stone, since as Creator of all things, the whole universe is his dwelling place…On the contrary, God is looking for a heart to dwell in, a heart that is tender and broken, not one concerned with the externalities of religion.  God is looking to dwell in the heart of a person who takes His Word seriously (cd 66:5 John 14:23)

PHOTO…   Can you name all these people???    Top, left to right…

Alexander the Great – he was told he was the son of Jupiter and that he would conquer the world!   To receive recognition as the supreme ruler, he required the provinces to worship him at a God!

King Tut – Famous wealthy young boy ruler…made a name for himself as a child

Julius Caesar – Roman general and statesman…one of the greatest men in the history of the world…said that he desired to rule by himself!

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi – Transindential Meditation…looking on the web, people call him “his holiness”

His Holiness Maharishi Mahesh Yogi today announced a practical plan to fund permanent World Peace, and to establish a perpetual seat of Peace on Earth. In response to the urgent need of our time, Maharishi is calling upon meditators throughout the world to collectively raise or commit $108 million dollars towards an initial goal of $250 million

Adolph Hitler – at President Paul von Hindenburg’s death in 1934, all officers had been required to take an oath of allegiance directly to Hitler…and his fiery speeches and his hypnotic effect of his eyes aroused people’s emotions…to the point that some people even fainted during his speeches.

Vladimir Lenin – He ruled Russia as a virtual dictator…by taking over all the factories, mines, public utilities, banks and stores!

Napoleon Bonaparte – He crushed democracy and monarchy alike, concentrating supreme power in one person…himself!  When he saw an empty throne…he said “I feel the urge to sit on it.”  In May 1804 the French senate voted him the title of Emperor.  The coronation ceremonies took place at Notre Dame Catedral on December 2nd.  As the pope prepared to crown him, Napoleon snatched the crown from the pontiff’s hands and placed it on his own head, to show that he had personally won the right to wear it!

Buddah – also know as Lord Buddah….is known as a great teacher of “spiritual things”…and has a large following

Mao Tse Tung - may be the most powerful person who has ever lived. He controlled almost a billion people for more than twenty five years. He controlled more than 9 million square kilometers of land. He controlled a country whose present value is more than $980 billion American. He overthrew an army of more than 4 million to get it, and killed many more to keep it. Many people see him as a godlike ruler.

ALL OF THESE MEN, PLUS MANY OTHERS FROM HISTORY DID NOT WANT HUMILITY, BUT THEY WANT POWER, FAME, FORTUNE,…AND CAN I GO AS FAR AS SAYING…THEY WANT TO BE GOD….OR LIKE GOD???

….BUT  (CHANGE SLIDE) (silence)

Only one God, who would be a man!    

HUMILITY!

Philippians 2:8 (NIV)

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death—

even death on a cross!

Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

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.

2 Cor. 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor so that you through his poverty might become rich.

Our God is a humble God!

AND he seeks a humble nation, humble Church, and a humble person,

The only way we will be a humble nation and or Church, is that we ourselves need to become humble people…like HIM

POV (page #1 in the bottom gray area)

Our God is a humble God!

Luke 14:11 How can we humble ourselves? Some people try to give the appearance of humility in order to manipulate others. Others think that humility means putting themselves down. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realize their sinfulness, and understand their limitations. On the other hand, they also recognize their gifts and strengths and are willing to use them as Christ directs. Humility is not self-degradation; it is realistic assessment and commitment to serve.

(CLOSING ILLUSTRATION…NEXT PAGE)
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:

A true story from Cori Connors, of Farmington, Utah, to Guideposts, March 1997

One Sunday afternoon our family gathered around our big oak table for dinner. Soon my daughter Kate’s laughter rose above the talk. “Gram, you’re silly!” she said. We all turned to see my mom delicately lifting to her mouth a small strand of peas on the blade of her knife. All but one pea made it, and everyone clapped. Then Mom told us the story behind her unorthodox technique:

“When I was little we didn’t have much. It was the Depression. But we did have a table full of food because my father grew wonderful vegetables. Lots of hoboes who had jumped from the train wandered onto our property, looking for a meal. More often than not an extra seat was pulled up to our dinner table.

“One summer afternoon I was sweeping the kitchen floor when my father’s voice came through the screen door: ‘Lizzy, set another plate. We have company tonight.’ Our guest paused in the doorway, and dipped his head in a gesture of gratitude. ‘Looks like he doesn’t speak much English,’ Dad said, ‘but he’s hungry like we are. His name is Henry.’

“When dinner was ready Henry stood until we were all seated, then gently perched on the edge of his chair, his head bowed and his hat in his lap. The blessing was said and dishes were passed from hand to hand.

“We all waited, as was proper, for our guest to take the first bite. Henry must have been so hungry he didn’t notice us watching him as he grabbed his knife. Carefully he slid the blade into the pile of peas before him, and then lifted a quivering row to his mouth without spilling a single pea. He was eating with his knife! I looked at my sister May and we covered our mouths to muffle our snickers. Henry took another knifeful, and then another.

“My father, taking note of the glances we were exchanging, firmly set down his fork. He looked me in the eye, then took his knife and thrust it into the peas on his plate. Most of them fell off as he attempted to lift them to his mouth, but he continued until all the peas were gone.

“Dad never did use his fork that evening, because Henry didn’t. It was one of my father’s silent lessons in acceptance. He understood the need for this man to maintain his dignity, to feel comfortable in a strange place with people of different customs. Even at my young age I understood the greatness of my father’s simple act of brotherhood.”

Mom paused, looked at her grandchildren, and winked as she plowed her knife into a mountain of peas.

Contributed by Cori Connors, of Farmington, Utah, to Guideposts, March 1997, p. 36.

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[1]The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[2]The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[3]The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[4]The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[5]The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[6]The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.

[7]The Holy Bible : New International Version (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984). Re 3:18.

[8]The Holy Bible : New International Version. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984.