John Lloyd - Humility: What does it mean to value others before myself?
/
Strengthen Your Core Series
Humility: What does it mean to value others before myself?
March 1, 2020
Pastor John Lloyd
Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles. If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly. God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus. This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices, and be like Jesus, CORE virtues. We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God. The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus. Today, we will consider the crown virtue of humility. Humility births and empowers all of the other virtues. Humility adds value to everything it touches.
Virtues covered so far: Love, joy, peace, self-control, hope, patience, goodness/kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and today humility.
Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Memory Verses: Philippians 2:2 Complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
Key Question: What does it mean to value others before myself?
Key Idea: I choose to esteem others above myself.
More than any other single way the grace of humility is worked into our lives through the discipline of service. Humility, as we all know, is one of those virtues that is never gained by seeking it. The more we pursue it the more distant it becomes. To think we have it is sure evidence that we don’t. Therefore, most of us assume there is nothing we can do to gain this prized Christian virtue so we do nothing. Of all the classic spiritual disciplines, service is the most conducive to the growth of humility. Richard Foster
I. Humility begins by surrendering to the greatest ________________.
Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
As our world becomes more self-absorbed, humility will not only be one of the most attractive and refreshing virtues to a searching and hurting world, but also a great blessing to our own lives in offering our hearts daily to the Lord, as we exalt him and him alone. Randy Frazee
Philippians 2:7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Matthew 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matthew 18:3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Hebrews 9:14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
Humbly calling on Jesus births true humility in our soul.
II. Humility sees and serves _____________.
I Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. Ps.100:2
A proud man is always looking down on things and people, and as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you. Lewis
Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others
John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
Jesus desires to make his followers servants.
III. Humility is our greatest protection against the virus of ____________.
Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ
Galatians 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
“Nothing sets a Christian out of the devil’s reach like humility” Jonathan Edwards
I Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you. (I Pet. 5:8)
Think of humility as the modesty of the heart. For the Christian, humility means life is not “all about me” but rather all about God and others. Randy Frazee
· Humility brings a secure knowledge of identity in Christ.
· Humility brings a freedom to elevate and to esteem others.
· Humility redirects our relationships to be about the well-being of others.
· Humility brings a deep sense of caring for the people in our circles.
· Humility brings a desire to reflect Christ in all things.
Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The ultimate humility is when we place our heart in the constant position of putting God’s glory first and seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
One of the most amazing pieces of evidence that we are becoming more and more like Jesus is the virtue of humility. Believers do not lift others up because they think lowly of themselves. No, they are able to esteem others above themselves because they have accepted the high esteem they have found through faith in Christ. Because we are freed from the struggle to prove we are somebody special, we can humble ourselves and look instead to build up others. When we do, it signals God’s presence within us. Look to the supreme example of Jesus. Randy Frazee
Walking in humility adds value and life to everything it touches!
Spiritual Growth Questions for March 1, 2020
(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)
Use a scale of 1 – 6 to rate how fully your life demonstrates the statements below: (1 = does not demonstrate at all, 6 = demonstrates fully).
____ As a child of God, I do not think too highly or too lowly of myself.
____ I am not known as a person who brags.
____ I am willing to make any of my faults known to Christians who care for
me.
____ I am not upset when my achievements are not recognized.
1. Read Matthew 5:1-12 two times. What verse stands out to you? What is the difference between what Jesus calls “blessed” and what the world refers to as “success?”
2. Read Luke 9:46-48 & Mark 10:35-45. In the kingdom of God, Jesus said the last shall be first and the first shall be last. What does this mean for people who desire positions of power and influence in the community of faith? In what ways does Christlike humility set us apart from the world? Why is it so appealing in our self-absorbed world?
3. Read John 13:1-17. Servant leadership is what Jesus modeled while on earth. What stands out to you from this passage? What is the difference from serving and identifying as a servant of God? What other ways can we demonstrate this principle besides washing someone’s feet?
4. Read Micah 6:6-8. Micah tells us that God requires us to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him. How are these actions related?
5. Read I Peter 5:1-6. How does humility grow us? How can it grow a church? How can it impact a community?
Work on your testimony: In one minute or less, tell about your life before you came to Christ. Share your circumstances, the struggles, and the questions you had. What path were you on before Jesus?
In one minute or less, tell how you came to faith in Christ. Who shared with you? What circumstances surrounded the decision? How did you know this was the right choice?
In one minute or less, tell how Christ has changed you. What differences has he made? How has life changed after crossing the line of faith?
Memory Verses: Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others