The Challenge to be Humble/Prayerful

2002038

Subject: humility; prayer

Introduction:

A. Scriptures teach continually of the need for self examination!

1. Paul examined himself daily – 1 Cor. 9:27

2. Told Christians of the need to examine self – 2 Cor 13:5

B. Each one of us needs to take a careful look to make sure we are filled with a spirit of pride.

1. Most of us are content to be filled with just a little pride/conceit.

2. Very hard for a proud & conceited man to be humble.

3. These are the very opposite of humility!

C. What comes to mind when you think of humility? Quiet? Shy? Weak? Spineless?

1. Or…do we picture humility as strength of character leading one toward obedience & service to God?

D. Humility is an important trait of every faithful Christian!

1. A sait is only born of a humbled sinner.

2. When a man is convicted of his sins; realizes his condemnation before God and acknowledges his inablilty to help himself, then Jesus steps in w/God’s salvation

3. Mt. 11:28-30

4. From this point onward – humility is to control every aspect of the Christian’s life!

E. Humilty comes from Greek tapeinos which means to “depress the pride.”

1. It means: “not proud or assertive; lowly.” Other definitions are “near to the ground; not high; no pretentious; unassuming.”

2. Synomyns: meek; modest; lowly.

I. The need for humility:

A. Job was someone who knew a lot about humility. Experienced tremendous adversity. Job 1, 2.

1. Job 22:29 – God will save the humble.

2. Job. 25:6 – Job says that man is a worm. Consider the lowly worm. Don’t think much of the worm do we.

B. Prov. 15:33

1. Before we can expect to have any honor – we must learn to have humilty; we must be humble!

C. Mt. 5:3 – Jesus teaches the need for humility!

D. 1 Peter 5:5-7 – Peter says that a man is to humble himself before God, before he can be exalted!

E. See also Js. 4:10; Micah 6:8.

II. Jesus Taught the Need to be humble by looking to little children.

A. See Matthew 18:1-6; 10-14; 19:13-15

B. According to Jesus – a well-conditioned child illustrates better than anything else on earth the distinctive features of a Christian’s character.

1. Little children do not assert of put themselves on a pedastal.

2. Little children have no memory for injuries, and absolutely no room in their heart for a grudge.

3. Little children have no previous opinions – and are not ashamed to confess their ignorance.

C. Let us do our best to put on this kind of personality – not one that is naïve – and vulnerable….but one that puts on the person of Christ by truly operating with the interests of others in mind.

III. Challenges to our humility.

A. We must look into the mirror of God’s word and see the face that is reflected there. See Js. 1:23-24.

1. Can be very painful!

2. Pride can hide in our hearts and be difficult to discover!

3. Only hard questions can flush it into the open!

B. Thanklessness challenges our humility!

1. Thanklessness eats away at it. Where did many of the problems start in Paul’s description in Rom. 1:21?

2. Sometimes we fail to acknowledge God’s great blessings upon us! We fail to glorify Him as we ought!

3. We’ve been blessed so richly! An abundance of blessings can lull our minds!

4. We forget that our salvation was purchased w/the blood of Christ! We forget that Jesus died for us while we were yet enemies of God! Rom. 5:10

5. Sometimes we look at our life and say – I’m really not that bad of a person. Or,…we begin to view worship as a dread and watch the clock to make sure the preacher does not preach overtime!

C. Opinions challenge our humility!

1. Phil. 2:3-4

2. Sometimes we let our opinions get the best of us. We can begin to think that our ways are best. (nothing wrong w/this.) and they may be!

3. Humility will prevent an opinion from being held too strongly! It will not allow us to force our opinions upon others.

4. Humility allows other people to have good ideas as well – and humility respects the ideas/thinking of others.

D. Knowledge challenges our humility!

1. 1 Cor. 8:1

2. Our attitude about our knowledge can destroy our humility!

3. As we grow in Christ – we are to put on knowledge! 2 Peter 3:18. However, we must know that knowledge w/out a proper attitude profits one nothing & that knowledge alone will not save!

4. Too many of us love to quarrel & debate. (These things have their place.)

a) some are seldom impressed w/the knowledge of their peers/and even older ones w/in the congregation.

b) Some of us get angry when others disagree. We could get to the point to where we find it difficult to understand opposing views in matters of opinion.

5. Friends, brethren – we must hold our brethren in esteem – humbling ourselves among them.

IV. Examples of humility:

A. We think of the publican – Lk. 18:9-14

B. Jesus, in washing the disciples feet – John 13:1-20

C. Jesus, in becoming obedient unto death – Phil. 2:8

V. The humble person will learn to depend upon God.

A. We live in a society that says if it is to be it is up to me. And that is true. We need to be workers – because a successful person will not wait on others to help him – he’ll get in there and get it done himself.

B. But remember,… when it comes to our relationship with God – we must learn to trust in Him.

1. Prov 3:5-6

2. Psa 103:8-14

3. We’ll learn that we can’t get it all done w/o God.

4. The humble person will realize that God is in control, and that God will take care of the one who serves Him!

C. Friends/brethren – there may be some spiritual valleys in your life right now that you just don’t know how you’ll get across. Look to God! Depend upon Him! Put self in the background.

1. The one who has a humble spirit will pray and pray often! This is the one who puts it in God’s hands!

2. 1 Peter 5:5-7 – how do we cast our care upon Him? Through prayer! Too often pride gets in the way! Must work against this!

3. 1 John 3:22; 5:14-15 – do we have the proper amount of confidence in God?

Conclusion:

A. We must work on getting pride out of our lives. Life long commitment!

1. must clothe ourselves in humility.

2. Will make for a much more rewarding life!

3. By putting on the person of Christ- we can joyously expect a home in heaven.

B. Are you depending upon God through prayer?

C. Do you have the privilege of being called God’s child?

1. You can be!

2. Obey the gospel today!

D. I N V I T A T I O N



The Challenge to be Humble/Prayerful 2002038 Subject: humility; prayer Introduction: A. Scriptures teach continually of the need for self examination! 1. Paul examined himself daily – 1 Cor. 9:27 2. Told Christians of the need to examine self – 2 Cor 13:5 B. Each one of us needs to take a careful look to make sure we are filled with a spirit of pride. 1. Most of us are content to be filled with just a little pride/conceit. 2. Very hard for a proud & conceited man to be humble. 3. These are the very opposite of humility! C. What comes to mind when you think of humility? Quiet? Shy? Weak? Spineless? 1. Or…do we picture humility as strength of character leading one toward obedience & service to God? D. Humility is an important trait of every faithful Christian! 1. A sait is only born of a humbled sinner. 2. When a man is convicted of his sins; realizes his condemnation before God and acknowledges his inablilty to help himself, then Jesus steps in w/God’s salvation 3. Mt. 11:28-30 4. From this point onward – humility is to control every aspect of the Christian’s life! E. Humilty comes from Greek tapeinos which means to “depress the pride.” 1. It means: “not proud or assertive; lowly.” Other definitions are “near to the ground; not high; no pretentious; unassuming.” 2. Synomyns: meek; modest; lowly. I. The need for humility: A. Job was someone who knew a lot about humility. Experienced tremendous adversity. Job 1, 2. 1. Job 22:29 – God will save the humble. 2. Job. 25:6 – Job says that man is a worm. Consider the lowly worm. Don’t think much of the worm do we. B. Prov. 15:33 1. Before we can expect to have any honor – we must learn to have humilty; we must be humble! C. Mt. 5:3 – Jesus teaches the need for humility! D. 1 Peter 5:5-7 – Peter says that a man is to humble himself before God, before he can be exalted! E. See also Js. 4:10; Micah 6:8. II. Jesus Taught the Need to be humble by looking to little children. A. See Matthew 18:1-6; 10-14; 19:13-15 B. According to Jesus – a well-conditioned child illustrates better than anything else on earth the distinctive features of a Christian’s character. 1. Little children do not assert of put themselves on a pedastal. 2. Little children have no memory for injuries, and absolutely no room in their heart for a grudge. 3. Little children have no previous opinions – and are not ashamed to confess their ignorance. C. Let us do our best to put on this kind of personality – not one that is naïve – and vulnerable….but one that puts on the person of Christ by truly operating with the interests of others in mind. III. Challenges to our humility. A. We must look into the mirror of God’s word and see the face that is reflected there. See Js. 1:23-24. 1. Can be very painful! 2. Pride can hide in our hearts and be difficult to discover! 3. Only hard questions can flush it into the open! B. Thanklessness challenges our humility! 1. Thanklessness eats away at it. Where did many of the problems start in Paul’s description in Rom. 1:21? 2. Sometimes we fail to acknowledge God’s great blessings upon us! We fail to glorify Him as we ought! 3. We’ve been blessed so richly! An abundance of blessings can lull our minds! 4. We forget that our salvation was purchased w/the blood of Christ! We forget that Jesus died for us while we were yet enemies of God! Rom. 5:10 5. Sometimes we look at our life and say – I’m really not that bad of a person. Or,…we begin to view worship as a dread and watch the clock to make sure the preacher does not preach overtime! C. Opinions challenge our humility! 1. Phil. 2:3-4 2. Sometimes we let our opinions get the best of us. We can begin to think that our ways are best. (nothing wrong w/this.) and they may be! 3. Humility will prevent an opinion from being held too strongly! It will not allow us to force our opinions upon others. 4. Humility allows other people to have good ideas as well – and humility respects the ideas/thinking of others. D. Knowledge challenges our humility! 1. 1 Cor. 8:1 2. Our attitude about our knowledge can destroy our humility! 3. As we grow in Christ – we are to put on knowledge! 2 Peter 3:18. However, we must know that knowledge w/out a proper attitude profits one nothing & that knowledge alone will not save! 4. Too many of us love to quarrel & debate. (These things have their place.) a) some are seldom impressed w/the knowledge of their peers/and even older ones w/in the congregation. b) Some of us get angry when others disagree. We could get to the point to where we find it difficult to understand opposing views in matters of opinion. 5. Friends, brethren – we must hold our brethren in esteem – humbling ourselves among them. IV. Examples of humility: A. We think of the publican – Lk. 18:9-14 B. Jesus, in washing the disciples feet – John 13:1-20 C. Jesus, in becoming obedient unto death – Phil. 2:8 V. The humble person will learn to depend upon God. A. We live in a society that says if it is to be it is up to me. And that is true. We need to be workers – because a successful person will not wait on others to help him – he’ll get in there and get it done himself. B. But remember,… when it comes to our relationship with God – we must learn to trust in Him. 1. Prov 3:5-6 2. Psa 103:8-14 3. We’ll learn that we can’t get it all done w/o God. 4. The humble person will realize that God is in control, and that God will take care of the one who serves Him! C. Friends/brethren – there may be some spiritual valleys in your life right now that you just don’t know how you’ll get across. Look to God! Depend upon Him! Put self in the background. 1. The one who has a humble spirit will pray and pray often! This is the one who puts it in God’s hands! 2. 1 Peter 5:5-7 – how do we cast our care upon Him? Through prayer! Too often pride gets in the way! Must work against this! 3. 1 John 3:22; 5:14-15 – do we have the proper amount of confidence in God? Conclusion: A. We must work on getting pride out of our lives. Life long commitment! 1. must clothe ourselves in humility. 2. Will make for a much more rewarding life! 3. By putting on the person of Christ- we can joyously expect a home in heaven. B. Are you depending upon God through prayer? C. Do you have the privilege of being called God’s child? 1. You can be! 2. Obey the gospel today! D. I N V I T A T I O N